Ex-cop Edgar Verduzco was off-duty and driving 150 mph while intoxicated when he caused the fiery crash that killed Mario, Maribel, and Oscar Davila in 2017
A former Los Angeles police officer has been sentenced to two concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison for killing three members of a family in a high-speed drunk driving crash on the 605 Freeway in 2017.
Edgar Verduzco, now 34, pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of murder, along with charges of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher causing injury.
On Friday, July 18, more than seven years after the deadly incident, Verduzco was formally sentenced in Los Angeles County Superior Court. In addition to the murder counts, he received a concurrent three-year term for the DUI-related charges.
A Family Lost
The crash occurred on September 26, 2017, when Verduzco, off-duty at the time, was driving at a staggering 150 miles per hour on the 605 Freeway while under the influence of alcohol. He struck two vehicles. One of them—a car carrying 60-year-old Mario Davila, his wife Maribel Davila, 52, and their 19-year-old son Oscar—crashed into the center divider and erupted in flames. All three were killed.
The second vehicle was occupied by a woman and her infant child, who both sustained minor injuries.
District Attorney: ‘A Reckless Choice’
In a statement released Friday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman condemned Verduzco’s actions.
“Mr. Verduzco knew the risks of driving under the influence, but his decision was fueled by recklessness and a careless disregard for others,” Hochman said. “The law applies equally to everyone — especially to those sworn to uphold it.”
He continued: “Driving drunk is not a mistake — it’s a choice, one that can have irreversible consequences. For the Davila family, that choice shattered their world.”
Back in April, following Verduzco’s guilty plea, Hochman noted that Oscar Davila, a UC Riverside student, had his life cut tragically short.
“Oscar was just 19. His life, and the lives of his devoted parents, ended in a senseless act of violence on the road,” Hochman said. “My thoughts are with their surviving loved ones, including Oscar’s four siblings.”
A Tragic Legacy
The crash sent shockwaves through the Los Angeles community in 2017, not only because of its devastating impact but because it involved a police officer. The case has since become a grim reminder of the fatal risks of drunk driving — no matter who’s behind the wheel.
Verduzco will serve his time in a California state prison. He will be eligible for parole only after serving at least 15 years.
