The Antelope Valley Times

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Lancaster man burned to death in hit-and-run crash near Chatsworth

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LOS ANGELES – The Coroner’s Office has publicly identified one of the two men killed near Chatsworth by a 21-year-old hit-and-run motorist, who was later arrested on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter.

Ernesto Javier Chinchillas Castro, 42, of Lancaster, was one of the two men who burned to death in the hit-and-run crash, according to Investigator Rudy Molano of the coroner’s office.

The name of the second man will be released pending notification of next of kin, Molano said. he was also in his 40s.

Dylan Shane Rutherford was arrested and his passenger, an unidentified woman, was detained but later released, according to Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section.

Lopez said he had no place of residence for Rutherford.

The hit-and-run crash was reported at 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at De Soto Avenue and Chatsworth Street.

Rutherford’s black Ram 1500 truck was going east on Chatsworth, and hit a a 1991 maroon GMC pickup truck that had been going northbound on De Soto, Lopez said.

Police said the GMC overturned and caught fire with two people trapped inside.

The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced Castro and the car’s other occupant, dead at the scene.

Rutherford and his passenger bailed out and ran north on De Soto, according to LAPD Officer R. Carter. Police searchers were able to search and find Rutherford, as well as his passenger, Lopez said.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

11 comments for "Lancaster man burned to death in hit-and-run crash near Chatsworth"

  1. The two that were arrested look like they are on drugs and drunk they are low life people how dare they leave the scene stupid coward punks now they will have a long time to think about there stupid decisions

  2. So sorry for your loss. I will keep your family in my prayers. Im also glad they caught the person responsible. God bless

  3. This information is incorrect. My father was not burned to death. KTLA and CBS2 news has more information on this.

      • The car flipped and he was T-boned on an intersection by a drunk driver. The driver hit him on his door and he bled to death. His head was in between the pavement and the car. His brother also died with him, it was a fast death. KTLA has the whole story.

          • If his child would like to clarify how his father passed than let him- if its bothersome to you or a waste of your precious time don’t comment- a**hole.

          • I’m not a sissy like the rest of you ,you too will die some day just like me !rather it be natural or brutal big deal death comes with the territory I don’t cry for the dead or go to there funeral , burn them or bury them move on quit crying and wanting sympathy !! Your life will only be remembered by your kids or maybe grandkids once they die you will cease to exist !

          • To No Sympathy (aka Boo hoo !!!!),
            It is called empathy for another person and their passage from living to dead. Most humans hope for as painless a death as possible.
            I too understand we all die, pauper or prince we all become bones or dust. I have have had people die in my arms, friends passed on since childhood for various reasons, and the ‘clean’ hospital deaths.
            There is no need to be rude to survivors of anyone.