Former Lancaster resident Davion Demetrious Murphy is charged with three counts of murder and one count of driving under the influence while causing injury in connection with the Jan. 11 traffic crash that killed 61-year-old Virginia Martinez, 23-year-old Yovany Yosair Salazar Calzada and his wife, Rocio, all Lancaster residents.
The collision happened around 12 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, on East Avenue J-8 at 10th Street East, also known as Challenger Way.
Witnesses told detectives a silver 4-door sedan traveling east on Avenue J-8 failed to stop at a red light and collided with a blue 4-door sedan traveling north on Challenger Way, according to Detective Matthew Davis of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. All three occupants in the blue sedan were pronounced dead at the scene.
The four men in the silver sedan sustained survivable injuries and were transported to a hospital to be treated.
Murphy was later identified as the driver of the silver sedan “from DNA, which was collected from inside the vehicle,” Detective Davis said in a news release. “Traffic investigators from Lancaster Station have determined that the suspected driver caused the collision by traveling at a high rate of speed, while also being under the influence of marijuana.”
“A warrant for the arrest of [Murphy] was issued and [Murphy] was subsequently arrested by the Phoenix Police Department regarding the arrest warrant,” Davis said in the news release.
An extradition arrest warrant for Murphy was filed Sept. 12, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; and Murphy was booked at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on Nov. 7, LASD inmate records show.
Murphy was to be arraigned on the triple murder charges on Thursday, Nov. 8, but the arraignment was postponed until Nov. 28, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Previous related story: 3 killed, 4 injured in Lancaster traffic crash
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tom says
the point is he killed 3 people. Doesn’t matter what race, color, or gender. He was high and decided to drive killing 3 people. Hope he gets the death sentence the same as the three he killed. Thanks to the government and the liberals for legalizing marijuana…
Dimples says
So tragic what happened!! But if people do they damn homework how is it possible he did this when they had to use the jaws of life to get this man out the car from the passenger side and the car flipped over!! Hmm ? One witness said the guy in the picture with no injuries was the one who was driving!! Now that couldn’t possibly been him driving!your dna would spread if the car was tossed!! Now these are facts so someone lying or they just trying to give this man time for this to put this to ease!! So sad!! This man hip leg broken and again was on the passenger side with a seatbelt on!! He have super powers if after the accident he could jump to the passenger seat and get cut out the car!! I’m just saying!! Public defenders ain’t [removed]!! So sad !! Everyone has a right to they opinion!! Look at the original story and the picture and look at this man, then look at the man in the picture on the grass in the paper and you would say they look nothing alike!! Facts!! A lot of people smoke weed!! They just want to charge anybody in that car but he wasn’t driving!! DNA [removed]
N says
your entitled to your opinion but dont act like you know what happened
your not the one going through what our family is going trough
your not the one leaving your children orphaned
so please just keep your opinions to your self.
Jc says
You cant tell the person that they have a right to their opinion then tell them to keep it to yourself. As for the article? This person is right. Blood would be everywhere from everyone in that vehicle. This sounds like the person is being blamed so that marijuana will be made into the bad guy. Whos to say the one who was high wasnt sitting in the back
Tamara says
Cold, man.
Ron says
BUILD THE WALL
Cynic says
The man who killed these people is named Davion Demetrious Murphy. That doesn’t sound Mexican to me.
Ron says
Going to be doing some hard time. I thought weed was harmless people!!
Ignacio P. says
It doesn’t kill you when its ingested unlike prolonged use of alcohol and pharmaceuticals. But driving while intoxicated, than yes, it can kill.
Bob says
Weed is harmless. Stupidly not so much.
Laughing says
Weed may be harmless, but impaired users may not be harmless.
Brenda G says
Your a piece of [removed] for saying some [removed] like that. Who the hell are you to degrade these people?! They are friends my my friend who are God parents to their little ones. Now they are orphans and going through a lot and you come up here saying some bullshit like you have a dam right. They were both born here and regardless is the less of it. Shut the hell up and keep your ridiculous comments to your dam self!
The death penalty would have been better but it is this. For your [removed] too would be good.
Rue says
U do the crime,u pay the time.However,the system is based off plea bargains which in other words he’ll be off with vehicular manslaughter on counts which he’ll probably do 15-18 years if he takes a plea bargain.And obviously that’s with a good attorney.
Windsalot says
That’s why there’s so much going on these days. Slap on wrist,with don’t ever do this again.
Fast & Furious: Extradition says
“Former Lancaster resident Davion Demetrious Murphy is charged with three counts of murder and one count of driving under the influence while causing injury…”
Future CDCR resident Davion Demetrious Murphy…
driving high is a real issue says
That’s the chance marijuana smokers take! I see [removed] all the time smoking pot in their cars. They also drive to the grocery store, they reek of pot and have car keys in their hand. I hope this family are resting in peace.
DEB says
You evidently did not read it. Because it said he was under the influence of marijuana and driving at a high rate of speed. Plus ran through a stop light. That’s three factors right there. Not just marijuana
Mary says
It has to be more than marijuana either on the phone or doing something else while driving just because they found marijuana on his system they want to use that as an excuse but if u smoke constantly marijuana it will be in ur system for days or months it does not necessarily mean you were high at the time I have nothing against weed and I don’t smoke it either but come on to say drugged driver on weed just sounds dumb
Citizens supporting run on sentences says
Good job Mary you did it and you also spel ur corectly
Big fan of Spelling, punctuation and grammar. says
LoL
Grace says
He was under marijuana and ran a ref light at a high speed not only that HE KILLED 3 PEOPLE and LEFT 3 CHILDREN WITH OUT PARENTS! Read correctly before you call an article dumb!
wait, wha?? says
thank you! I don’t know how they can say “under the influence of marijuana” and think that it is an automatic impaired driving thing. It may be in your system, but that doesn’t mean that you were actually impaired at the time of the incident. maybe they can gauge by the levels detected… I am not really sure how it works. if anybody does know (like actually know… not guessing) then i would really like to hear from them. but yeah, just having it in your system doesn’t mean it influenced your driving.