Jurors deliberated about two hours before finding Davion Murphy guilty of three counts of second-degree murder stemming from the Jan. 11, 2018, collision at the corner of Avenue J-8 and Challenger Way, according to Deputy District Attorney Casey Higgins.
Yovany Salazar Calzada, 23, Rocio Perez Lopez, 26, and Calzada’s grandmother, Virginia Martinez, 61, were inside a Subaru WRX that was struck by a silver Lexus being driven by Murphy. All three died at the scene of the crash, according to the deputy district attorney, who prosecuted the case with colleague Yoobin Hernandez.
The prosecution argued that evidence, including a blood test subsequently done on Murphy, showed that he was driving under the influence of marijuana, and witnesses reported seeing him smoking marijuana about 30 to 45 minutes before the crash.
Murphy — who had three passengers in his car that survived the collision — went through a red light and struck the driver’s side of the Subaru containing the three victims, Higgins said.
Authorities used the black box from the car containing the victims to determine that Murphy had been driving at least 88 mph in a 40 mph zone at the time of the crash, the prosecutor said.
Murphy has remained jailed since his arrest in November 2018 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Murphy is facing a minimum of 15 years to life and a maximum of 45 years to life in state prison, with sentencing set April 22 in a Lancaster courtroom, Higgins said.
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Drive SOBER! says
Didn’t he watch Scarface?? )) Probably too young for this movie. “don’t get high on your own supply” fits perfectly here… Jokes aside, three innocent people are dead. Pot legalization works perfectly in California. Politicians trying to get more electorate did this. More deaths are coming.
EXAV says
The cause of this accident is speeding and running a light.
Ron says
He’s facing 15-45 years because of being under the influence of pot. Not for running a stop sign. Its just like drunk driving. So your wrong.
EXAV says
Nope. Take a breath from your knee jerk hysteria.
EXAV says
@Ron…Wrong again. This is NOT just like drunk driving. Paranoid, bloodthirsty, know nothings auch as yourself need to go read a book or take a college class. The presence of marijuana metabolites does not mean marijuana caused this collision. Try demonstrating something other than hysterical knee jerk paranoia.
Ron says
Well according to the law he’s facing 45 years. He wouldn’t be looking at 45 years had he been sober. You live in the Land of Oz. It is like drunk driving. He’s going to do alot of prison time. The Law disagrees with you. You are living in a Fantasy World. My cousin husband is a cop. He will tell you the same thing. Drive under the influence of anything and kill you’re screwed.
EXAV says
@Ron..Because the law is always right? Save your BS for your children. I don’t want to hear more paranoid comments from bloodthirsty know nothings. Bad driving and bad decision making caused this tragedy, not marijuana metabolites present in the bloodstream.
RWNJ'S says
Uh, marijuana was not the cause of this car accident. The majority of all car accidents involve sober drivers. All the commenters here can take their bloodlust and shove it directly up their azzes.
Kiki says
This happens when low life’s ps don’t have a job and are drugged out with the free money they get from the government they should never give out assistant to lazy people. Free loaders
EXAV says
@kiki..Please elaborate and provide facts that demonstrate this was a lowlife unemployed thug on government assistance. If you cannot provide any real facts, please close your mouth and quit wasting valuable oxygen with your paranoid, fact free mouth breather comments. Read a book, take a college class, learn something.
Cynic says
Lock him up and throw away the key.
Ron says
It doesn’t matter how you feel about pot. What matters is what the Law says. According to the Law if you’re driving under the influence of drugs and you get in an accident and 3 people die expect to do some hard time. The Law don’t care about you’re feelings . The judge don’t care what you think about pot. 15 years to 45 years just because he wanted to get high. Now 3 people are dead.
EXAV says
@ron..I will state the facts once again for the hysterical reactionary named Ron posting comments. Who gives a sh!t what the law says. The law has been locking people up for BS and lies since the dawn of mankind. The driver likely also had breakfast with coffee that morning. Does that mean caffeine was the cause of this tragic accident? Marijuana metabolites in the bloodstream mean nothing. This was plain old speeding and bad driving choices resulting in running the red light. You’re a paranoid, bloodthirsty, knee jerk reactionary. Do the world a favor and never vote.
Laughing says
EXAV, your protest seems to indicate you like smoking pot and driving. That means you will be breaking the law if you do. The law does not care that you do not care about it.
As for the debate on safe to drive or not while using… I have driven behind people that I personally know use, some of them drive decently while using. I have also driven behind others that totally suck at driving due to delayed reaction times. Then there are the ones that slow way down… way too slow and become a danger. Or the stupid ones driving in a cloud of smoke (obscures their vision).
I have yet to see a person perform better behind the wheel after using pot compared to the same person sober.
EXAV says
@laughing…You are literally surrounded by drivers on the road-everyday- that have been smoking pot. The dispensaries are open from 9am till 10pm and do brisk business. The amount of pot smoking drivers is astrnomical.
You’re damn right I smoked pot and drive -for 30 years accident free, as have the 1000’s of people around you on the roads everyday. I enjoy smoking weed and driving. You live in a fantasy bubble.
Ron says
Well he’s looking at 15 years to 45 years in the Joint. Its up to the Judge now. People who smoke weed when driving better think twice. You never know what can happen. You could end up doing some hard time.
Ron says
By the way I do vote and voted for TRUMP !!! TRUMP 2020!!!
EXAV says
@Ron….That’s all you got? Tapping out like a weasel just like Republicans always do when facts get in the way of their mindless ranting. When you come across some facts that extend beyond your hysterical, reactionary and predictable comments, I’ll be waiting right here.
Ron says
Maybe pot not as harmless as we thought. He killed 3 people.
Crossroads m says
Stupid crack head pot smokers
Stoned Driver says
That Irish bloke is going to be spending a lot of time behind bars.