Second Man Is Arrested in Fatal Race

A Santa Ana man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder in connection with a street race in May that caused a head-on collision that killed a 74-year-old grandmother, authorities said.

Rodrigo Oregel Gomez, 22, is being held at the Santa Ana City Jail on $1-million bail. He was arrested about 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department after questioning. He is also being held on suspicion of felony manslaughter and speeding.

Police said Gomez was racing against Julio Enrique Trujillo, 25, of Santa Ana on Bristol Street near Central Avenue on May 1. While going about 85 mph, police said, Trujillo lost control of his Mustang on the busy six-lane road and collided with a Volkswagen Golf in an oncoming lane, killing its driver, Margaret Leyva of Huntington Beach.

The impact was so great that both vehicles spun in midair. The Volkswagen smashed into a light pole. Emergency crews used the Jaws of Life to extricate the woman, who died at the scene.

Trujillo suffered a fractured ankle and other broken bones, and is in a wheelchair. He has been charged with murder and a felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and is awaiting a preliminary hearing next month.

Witnesses told police that the other car was a red Honda, and investigators had few leads.

But as news of the crash spread, more people started calling police with information. Among them was a witness who told police that the description of the car was incorrect. He described the vehicle as a two-door, bright metallic gold Acura Integra made between 1990 and 2000. Gomez’s car, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Baltazar De La Riva said, is a two-door, bronze 1995 Integra.

Police said Gomez prepared the car for painting and had taken it to a body shop. Further investigation led officers to a shop where the car was waiting to be painted, police said.

“It was a combination of several community members coming forward to help us with our investigation,” De La Riva said. “It was like a puzzle. It’s a good example of working together to solve crimes.”

Police said Trujillo and Gomez did not know each other but began racing when looks were exchanged during a red light.

“This was an impromptu illegal street race where those involved come up to the red light, look at each other and engage in an illegal street race that ended up in fatal consequences,” De La Riva said.