PASADENA >> A Pasadena man is accused of manslaughter following an early-morning crash that claimed the life of a woman riding as a passenger in his car just south of the Rose Bowl on Saturday, authorities said.
Javier Placencia Jr., 38, was arrested following the 5:30 a.m. solo-car crash in the 900 block of Seco Street, between Rosemont and Lincoln avenues, Pasadena police Lt. Mark Goodman said in a written statement.
Officers responded to report of a vehicle fire when they came upon a 2007 Ford Edge that had crashed into a light pole, Goodman said. The car was not on fire.
The passenger was taken to a hospital where she soon succumbed to her injuries, officials said.
The driver, later identified as Placencia, was unhurt.
“It is believed that alcohol was a related factor in this collision,” Goodman said.
The identity of the 52-year-old woman killed in the crash was not released pending notification of her family. The relationship between the woman and the suspect was also unclear.
Placencia was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the Pasadena City Jail pending his initial court appearance, officials said.
According to Los Angeles County Superior Court records, Placencia was just sentenced to 10 days in jail and three years of summary probation on Oct. 4 after pleading “no contest” to a charge of being drunk in public. The case stemmed from an arrest in March.
He also received a sentence of 13 days in jail and three years formal probation in September after pleading “no contest” to a charge of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury. That case stemmed from an arrest in May.
Anyone witnesses or anyone with information with information is urged to contact Pasadena police Traffic Section Lt. Diego Torres as 626-744-7159, or the on-duty watch commander at 626-744-4620.