Family Calls Fatal Wrong-Way 101 Freeway Crash Domestic Violence

Los Angeles CA

17 August, 2021

3:08 AM

Description

LOS ANGELES, CA — The family of a woman killed in a wrong-way crash said the father of her children deliberately sped the wrong way down the Ventura (101) Freeway, slamming into a big rig and killing her and injuring their four children. Cesar Iban Torres, 31, was charged Monday with murder in the death of his girlfriend 26-year-old Aimee Garcia. Torres is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in a Van Nuys courtroom on one count each of murder, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, along with four counts each of attempted murder and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Torres was driving a 2003 Lincoln SUV westbound in the eastbound lanes of the 101 Freeway near the San Diego (405) Freeway, when the vehicle collided head-on with a 2016 Kenworth tractor-trailer at about 7:10 p.m. last Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol. Garcia died at the scene of the crash and her four children, who range in age from 1 to 7-years-old, suffered moderate injuries, according to the District Attorney's Office. On a gofundme page that has raised more than $30,000 for burial costs, Garcia's aunt said she endured years of abuse, and her death has left her children traumatized. "She was a loving, caring mother," wrote her aunt. "Unfortunately, she was a victim of domestic violence for many years and yesterday the aggressor fulfilled his objective and enter the freeway the wrong way intentionally killing my niece. Thank God the children are fine but very traumatized. " After the crash, Torres allegedly attempted to flee, according to the CHP, which also alleged that arriving officers "made contact with Torres, where he became combative and a use of force occurred while taking Torres into custody." The crash shut down multiple lanes of the eastbound 101 Freeway for several hours while an investigation was conducted. In a statement announcing the charges against Torres, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said, "A family has been torn apart by this tragic collision that leaves four young children without their mother." Torres has remained behind bars in lieu of $1 million bail since his arrest last Thursday night by the CHP, jail records show. City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.