A 23-year-old Lancaster man has been charged with murder for causing a fiery crash last month that killed a Palmdale man.
Jeffrey Cole Brooks was charged in connection with the Sept. 27 crash that claimed the life of 21-year-old Daniel Orellana Jr., according to court records.
Brooks appeared in an Antelope Valley courtroom Thursday for a scheduled arraignment, but he did not enter a plea and the arraignment was postponed to next week, court records show.
The murder charge stems from a fatal crash that occurred just before 4 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 on Avenue S at Sierra Highway.
Brooks was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer eastbound on Avenue S when he crashed into the back of Orellana’s Mitsubishi Eclipse, according to Sheriff’s officials. Witnesses said the Eclipse was stopped at a traffic signal when it was rear-ended by the speeding Lancer. The Eclipse then burst into flames, and Orellana was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This young man died a tragic death… he burned alive,” said community activist Miguel Coronado.
Coronado joined Orellana’s grieving family members outside the Antelope Valley courthouse Thursday morning following Brooks’ court appearance. Nearly two dozen family members attended the brief court hearing, many of them wearing t-shirts with Orellana’s picture on the front.
“Just the way that Danielito passed away was just horrendous and just so bad that the family just wants justice,” said close family friend Paula Tuchan. “[Daniel] was just coming home from work… he never did anything wrong for him to die such a tragic death.”
“I need justice to be served,” Daniel Orellana Sr. said in Spanish. Family members said Daniel’s mother has been ill since her son’s passing. They said she fainted in the courthouse Thursday.
“It’s just horrible. The whole family is shaken and very upset,” Tuchan said.
Brooks, who had been free on $100,000 bail since the day after the crash, was taken into custody at his court appearance Thursday. His bail was increased to $1 million. Brooks is due back in court Nov. 5 for arraignment and plea, according to court records.
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Previous related stories:
Family mourns man killed in fiery Palmdale crash
1 dead, 1 arrested after fiery rear-end crash in Palmdale
John says
I wonder if he still wants his wheels…
Chris says
I’m sorry that a life was lost, but were anyone of you there? If not, don’t be so quick to pass judgment and ass u m e!
B Smith says
Coronado and Perris are ambulance chasing birds of a feather who will do anything that profits them and aggrandizes their sad fragile egos.
PDF says
B. Smith, I agree. As soon as I saw the Coronado agenda, it occurred to me that he is grooming himself for some kind of political position.
For the rest of you not privy to the information, do not be quick to judge. We have something in this country called due process. That means that the U.S. is not about lynch mob justice. Let the facts and information be looked at by a judge and jury. Also, don’t let people with political aspirations fan the flames of racial division.
PDF says
Well, it occurred to me that Coronado might be grooming himself for a political position. ;)
Dr. Miguel S. Coronado says
I hope you VOTE for me.
Never says
Not a chance.
Big Lou says
My question is why it took so long to charge him. I bet he has bucks and a smooth talking attorney. I have yet to see the doctor who plowed into a family on the 14 with his Tesla behind bars. If it were common folks like you and I, we’d be locked up until we were found guilty. Also, the day of the murder, I went to the punks Facebook profile, and his true colors showed. His profile was all about his car, and pictures of him and his buddies drinking. Later that day I was going to snap the photos and they were all gone. While he was in jail. he had someone change his profile.
JumpinJackFlash says
Very little detail is available on this whole deal. Mr. Cole deserves whatever he gets. It’s quite sad for the family of Daniel Orellana Jr.
Two young men’s lives destroyed over something as stupid as street racing.
Miguel Coronado is a race huckster trying to make hay out of this himself and get some street cred for his “Man of the People” thing. He’s disgusting for inserting himself into this tragedy.
KayDee says
Shame on you for trying to put a street racing spin on this. No one, I mean no one, has said anything about street racing. Daniel was on his way home from work. And this Jeffrey Brooks person has friends defending him on Facebook saying he had just got off a party bus and was sh## face drunk! His friends said the party bus was supposed to drive him home but took him to his car instead. So you might as well give up trying to spin this into some kind of street race. Coronado might be a race baiting huckster, but you are shameful for trying to put blame on the victim. Absolutely pathetic!!!!
JumpinJackFlash says
I’ve probably said more than I should, but there IS a racing aspect to this accident. It hasn’t been called out yet, that’s all I can say.
As to putting the blame on the victim; What part of “Mr. Cole deserves whatever he gets. It’s quite sad for the family of Daniel Orellana Jr.” don’t you understand?
That is a stupid accusation.
Facts says
There was no racing aspect. I was a witness. To him being wasted on that bus, him belligerent driving off from the park and ride that night. I also arrived to the accident moments after it happened. Stop spreading false claims when you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.
ERIK says
I agree with you on the Coronado guy. He is a man of opportunity and photo ops. He reads about tragic stories like this one, puts down his newspaper, throws on his neck tie, and becomes the prince of photo ops while building his resume on others misery. These poor families do not realize the intention that this man has. He is the epitome of the word “villain.” I always feel so terrible for these families when tragedy strikes and then I get angry when I pick up the paper and Miguel Coronado has inserted himself into their story. His pictures are so set-up….concerned face in the middle of a comforting speech with upset victim, hand waving like he is making his grand point and SNAP! That will look good on the front page! Read his resume on the city website. He drops names more than the average narcissist. He could help these people in a way that shows sincerity but he chooses to dance and juggle in front of the press.
AV1990 says
People out in the AV drive drunk late nite, the sheriffs need to patrol more at night. Its very sad this happened. People need to call a cab or friend for a ride if they are too impaired to drive. Now this young man lost his life and the other man will have the rest of his life to think about it. They dont let out people doing life who have killed someone, contrary to what people think.
AVHC says
Did I miss something reading this article? Nowhere does it say anything about this being DUI related. 80% of car accidents have nothing to do with DUI.
Accidents happen.
Greg says
Prior article had stated it was investigated as a DUI.
Ff says
Read the previous related stories. Links are under this story.
Danny says
You are so blind AVHC until it happens to you
AVHC says
Cry me a river. If you’re drunk and you commit a crime then let the punishment fit the crime. Don’t equate blitzed out black out drunk driving with the revenue focused low BAC garbage they normally focus on to keep the Michael Antonovich revenue collection center humming along.
dumbandblind says
Victim’s family pleads for revenge not justice. Just take a look at the picture.
callitasitis says
Revenge is good enough so long it is done by the court. If you are looking for justice that will come later when this guy is in CDC with the real man eating sharks. The family of course is not happy with the live burn offer of their son on the alter of DUI drivers
Amy says
The picture just shows a bunch of very, very sad people. They don’t even look angry, let alone vengeful.
amber says
Iam so sorry for the loss of this young msns lufe due to someone else’s stupidity and choices we here this same story time after time when are people gonna get the messege Dont DRINK AND DRIVE I really hate to say but this kid was dead wayyy before car caught fire the impact was herendous this mother along with several other mothers who have lost a child because of this soooo sad and so dissapointed how irresponsible people keep acting with alcohol apparently this kills more than Drugs do.
Caramel96 says
My thoughts and prayers go out the family and loved ones of the deceased. From what I read Daniel’s mother has taken her sons passing very hard and I am happy that she has the support from her family and loved ones I pray that she gets better.
J says
Just looking at this kids FaceBook page after the accident…he did not seem to be too upset, probably more upset he crashed his pretty car up…from what I read, this is not the first time he has been in trouble…A Nanny Mouse must be a friend of his to say such stupid statements…The poor guy he killed was minding his own business when this drunk idiot ran into him ! Hope he gets what he deserves and straightens out his life.
Inquiring Mind says
Glad to hear that another DUI offender will hopefully face some tough charges and I wish the family peace and comfort during this most difficult time….but my inquiring mind would like to know if anyone knows what ever happened with the multiple fatality crash that Dr. Garrison was involved with?
A Nanny Mouse says
Condolences to the family. That being said, how does this warrant a murder charge? Reckless endangerment, possibly? But wouldn’t he have to know this kid had a crappy car that would go jiffy pop like a Ford Pinto? Could the D.A. have charged him high for wiggle room in a plea? Any J.D.s out there?
Dixie says
In the first article it stated that alcohol was suspected to be a factor. If this is true, and if he had priors, then the charge could be elevated to murder. It is difficult to collect the facts from these articles, and the responses are typically fueled by emotion rather than fact.
That being said I am very sorry for this tragic loss of life.
Anthos says
Involuntary manslaughter at best, if he was drinking and has priors he is getting murder. He will never have a chance in court with two dozen family members there. He was clearly going way over the speed limit to cause a crash like that from behind. Either way he will go to hell and burn like jiffy pop.
youheartlessP.O.S says
Are you kidding me…crappy car that would go jiffy pop like a Pinto???
First, Brooks was going 102mph…
Second, I don’t care what your driving, at that speed any car/truck is going to ignite!
Third, your a heartless P.O.S!!!
This idiot Brooks blew a 2.4, and was vertical…which means he’s no stranger to drinking, he punched two of his “friends” that tried to stop him from driving, and he has a prior DUI. He deserves a murder charge!
Dd says
I’m glad he was taken into custody. He didn’t deserve to be out in the first place.
what says
This guy is done. I hooe he gets what he deserves…