San Diego, CA – An unlicensed driver, identified as Angel Velasquez Salgado, 21, is set to be sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to the deaths of Malikai Orozco-Romero, 8, and Mason Orozco-Romero, 4.
The two young brothers were killed during a police pursuit on December 8, 2023, when Salgado crashed into their family’s Honda sedan in Mountain View.
The boys were riding in the back seat when Salgado’s BMW rear-ended the car at the 43rd Street off-ramp on Interstate 805, sending the sedan down an embankment and into a tree. The vehicle caught fire on impact.
Two women inside the car, including the boys’ mother, suffered injuries but survived the crash.
Charges and Guilty Plea
Salgado pleaded guilty to two counts of murder along with additional charges, including:
- Hit-and-run causing injury for striking another vehicle earlier in the pursuit.
- Felony evading for a separate San Diego police chase that occurred about seven months prior to the fatal crash.
He faces 30 years to life in state prison for his role in the deadly crash.
Police Pursuit Details
Testimony during a three-day preliminary hearing revealed that officers initially noticed Salgado’s BMW because of a headlight outage. The vehicle abruptly pulled into a driveway on 32nd Street, but officers discovered the car was not registered to that address.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, Salgado allegedly sped off, weaving through traffic, running a stop sign, and using shoulders and bus lanes to evade capture as reported.
The pursuit stretched across northbound Interstate 15, eastbound State Route 94, and southbound Interstate 805, ending in the devastating collision with the victims’ vehicle.
Aftermath of the Crash
Following the crash, Salgado fled on foot but was arrested at a nearby residence shortly afterward.
The tragedy sparked widespread community outrage and calls for the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) to re-examine its vehicle pursuit policies.
Debate Over Police Pursuit Policies
The city’s Commission on Police Practices issued preliminary recommendations urging SDPD to limit pursuits to cases where suspects pose an imminent threat to public safety. The commission argued that pursuits for property crimes, misdemeanors, and minor traffic violations put innocent lives at risk.
However, SDPD pushed back in a written response, stating that restricting pursuits could endanger public safety and contribute to rising crime rates. The department argued that other jurisdictions with stricter policies have seen negative outcomes.
Family Lawsuit and Community Response
The Orozco-Romero family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, alleging that officers should have terminated the pursuit to prevent the deadly outcome. The case continues to fuel discussions about balancing law enforcement duties with public safety concerns.
Community advocates have urged the city to implement stricter pursuit guidelines to prevent future tragedies like the one that claimed the lives of Malikai and Mason.
Do you think police should restrict vehicle pursuits to protect public safety, or are such chases necessary to catch dangerous drivers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
