San Dimas woman arrested in mother-in-law’s slaying

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR >> Sheriff’s officials Thursday announced the arrest of a 42-year-old San Dimas woman who was found driving in Orange County with the remains of her slain mother-in-law in an SUV Wednesday following a fire at the mother-in-law’s Diamond Bar home.
Unyoung Lee had been a “person of interest” in the investigation ever since she was found driving in Tustin early Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
After a day of questioning, detectives arrested Lee about 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to Los Angeles County booking records. She was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail pending her arraignment, scheduled Friday in Pomona Superior Court.
Orange county coroner’s officials withheld the identity of Lee’s alleged victim and 77-year-old mother-in-law.
A large fire that broke out shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday at the victim’s house in the 1200 block of N. Diamond Bar Boulevard first drew emergency personnel to the home, according to deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
Firefighters found no one inside the home.
But Tustin police soon received a tip that the resident of the home had been killed, the house had been set on fire intentionally, and the possible killer was driving in the Tustin area with the victim’s remains in the car.
Tustin police quickly found the car and detained Lee as detectives continued their investigation both in Tustin and in Diamond Bar.
A motive in the slaying has not been released.

Teens arrested in Diamond Bar home burglary

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR >> Deputies arrested three teenage burglary suspects Sunday afternoon after they broke into a Diamond Bar home occupied by another teenager, officials said.
The break-in occurred about 12:10 p.m. in the 800 block of Leyland Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. David Buckner said.
A teenage boy was home alone when the burglars knocked at the door, then forced their way into the house after receiving no response, the lieutenant said.
The victim called 9-1-1 to report the burglary while the teenage suspects were still inside the home, Buckner said. They had fled in a blue Honda Civic before deputies arrived, however.
A neighbor managed to take down the license plate number of the car, and deputies soon found it nearby and pulled it over, Buckner said.
Deputies arrested the three teens of about 17 years old and recovered several hundred dollars believed to have been stolen in the break-in, he said.

Person struck by truck on 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR >> A person has been hospitalized in unknown condition after being struck by a truck on the 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar early Saturday.
The incident occurred on the westbound lanes of the 60 beneath the 57 Freeway about 2:45 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Polizzi said.
The sequence was initiated with a single-vehicle crash with either the center divider or the right shoulder wall of the freeway, causing the vehicle, a gray Cadillac, to catch fire, according to CHP logs.
The Cadillac appeared to have had two occupants, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials and a videographer at the scene.
At least one of them exited the car, officials said.
A person, described only as male, was trying to put out the fire when he was struck by a truck, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Al Jackson said.
Another driver stopped and dragged the victim out of the freeway lanes, according to the log.
Paramedics took the injured person to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center for treatment, according to fire and CHP officials. An update on his condition was not available.
The second person inside the Cadillac was not hospitalized, officials said.
Fire officials described the involved truck as a big rig, while CHP officials described it as a delivery truck.
The investigation was being handled by officers from the Baldwin Park office of the CHP, who could not be reached for comment.

— Staff and wire report

Covina man accused of DUI in major injury crash on the 57 Freeway in Diamond Bar

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR >> A fiery crash blamed on a drunken driver sent five people to the hospital early Sunday, including a woman and a boy who suffered major injuries, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol received reports of a crash between a 2003 Toyota Camry and a 2010 Kia Forte about 3:10 a.m. on the northbound 57 Freeway just north of Diamond Bar Boulevard, CHP Sgt. Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh said in a written statement.
The Kia was stopped along the right shoulder of the freeway prior the crash, she said. A 29-year-old woman was at the wheel, along with a 24-year-old woman, a boy of unknown age and a man of unknown age riding as passengers. All four occupants of the Kia were Apple Valley residents, however the relationship among them was unclear.
The boy and a man who were passengers in the Kia suffered major injuries and were flown to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for treatment, Van Valkenburgh said. Paramedics took the woman who was driving the Kia, as well as the second woman riding as a passenger, to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center with injuries described as minor to moderate.
Edgar Rodriguez, 26, of Covina, is suspected of being drunk as he drove his Toyota Camry up the 57 Freeway approaching the stopped Kia, Van Valkenburgh said.
“His vehicle drifted onto the right shoulder and rear-ended the Kia,” she said.
The impact sent the Kia spinning, and it ultimately came to a rest blocking the two right-hand lanes, officials said.
The Toyota continued forward along the sound wall along the right side of the freeway before coming to a rest.
“Shortly after (Rodriguez) escaped from his vehicle, is caught fire and became engulfed in flames,” Van Valkenburgh said. He was treated for “moderate” injuries including a broken wrist and was expected to be booked on suspicion of felony drunken driving.
Officials shut down all northbound lanes of the freeway until about 4:10 a.m., at which time the HOV lane was opened for traffic, according to the CHP. All traffic lanes were cleared shortly before 5 a.m.
Any witnesses to the crash were asked to contact Officer Dockweiler of the Baldwin Park office of the CHP at 626-338-1164.

Woman uses pepper spray on mugger in Diamond Bar

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR >> A man robbed a woman of her wallet Thursday, but the woman fought back with pepper spray, officials said.
The robbery took place about 2 p.m. on Diamond Bar Boulevard, just south of Grand Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Frank Rivera said.
The robber pushed the woman and grabbed her wallet when it fell to the ground, the lieutenant said. The woman sprayed pepper spray toward the robber, though it was unclear if it hit him in the face.
Deputies searched the area for the robber, but he was not found, Rivera said. A detailed suspect description was not available.
The woman, who was in her 20s, was examined by paramedics but did not appear to have suffered significant injury, Rivera said.

Ex-Diamond Bar middle school teacher gets more than 15 years in prison for molesting student

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Brian Day

POMONA >> A judge sentenced a former Diamond Bar middle school teacher to more than 15 years in prison Thursday for carrying on a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student, officials said.
Ex-Carl Lorbeer Middle School teacher Steven Shane Andrews, 43, of Anaheim, received the maximum sentence of 15 years and 18 months in state prison from Pomona Superior Court Judge Mike Camacho, according to Sarah Ardalani of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
A jury convicted Andrews in March of 17 felony counts related to the a sexual relationship he had with a student between May 2011 and his his Sept. 20, 2011, arrest, authorities said.
Camacho additionally ordered Andrews to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Ardalani said.
Andrews first met his victim at school when she was 13 years old, investigators said.
“The defendant taught the victim for about a year before the sexual misconduct began,” Ardalani said in a written statement. “Initially, the incidents transpired at the school, but later also occurred off-campus.”
The crimes came to light when another teacher at the school became suspicious of Andrews’ interactions with the girl and notified the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, she added.
Andrews was placed on leave from the Pomona Unified School District a day before his arrest when school officials learned of the allegations, officials said. He was formerly fired in December of 2012.
The investigation was handled by the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau.

Resident shoots at burglar in Diamond Bar

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR >> A homeowner shot at a burglar during a break-in Friday afternoon in Diamond Bar, authorities said.
A man was at home about 1:30 p.m. in the 400 block of N. Del Sol Lane when he heard a smashing noise, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Frank Rivera said. He soon discovered the noise was created by an intruder bashing his way through the home’s front door.
Investigators suspect the burglar did not realize anyone was home when he forced his way into the house, Rivera said. The burglar and homeowner encountered one another in the living room.
“I think they were both shocked when they saw each other,” the lieutenant said.
The homeowner grabbed a handgun and fires a single shot at the intruder, Rivera said. “He felt his life was in danger.”
The burglar fled, getting into a burgundy Toyota Camry with tinted windows and a waiting driver.
The burglar was not believed to have been struck by the resident’s gunfire, though it could not be ruled out Friday evening, Rivera said. Officials checked area emergency rooms for gunshot victims that may be linked to the crime with no success.
A detailed description of the burglar was not available.

Arcadia man killed in Diamond Bar motorcycle crash identified

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR — Coroner’s officials have released the name of a 29-year-old Arcadia man who was killed in a freeway motorcycle crash in Diamond Bar Wednesday.
Justen Dillon Wrench died at the scene of the crash, which was reported about 8:35 a.m. Wednesday on the southbound 57 Freeway transition road to the westbound 60 Freeway, according to Los Angeles County Department of Coroner and California Highway Patrol officials.
Wrench was riding south at an unknown speed when he collided with a Honda Civic, CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
The crash caused Wrench to fall into the roadway, where he was run over by a big rig, the officer said.
An autopsy determined Wrench died from traumatic injuries, and the death was ruled accidental, coroner’s officials said.
The drivers of both the Honda and the big rig remained at the scene, officials said. No arrests were made as the investigation into the cause of the crash continued.

Arcadia man killed in Diamond Bar motorcycle crash

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR — A 29-year-old Arcadia man died after being run over by a big rig following a freeway motorcycle crash in Diamond Bar Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The name of the motorcyclist was not released Wednesday pending notification of his family, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Joe Bale said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 8:35 a.m. on the transition road connecting the southbound 57 Freeway to the westbound 60 Freeway, just north of Grand Avenue, according to California Highway Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
The cyclist was riding a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R in the No. 3 lane when he approached a slower-moving 2014 Honda Civic being driven at 20 to 30 mph, Jimenez said. A big rig was also travelling at 10 to 15 mph behind the motorcycle in the No. 3 lane.
“A collision between the Honda Civic and the Suzuki motorcycle occurred,” Jimenez said. “It is unclear at this time how the collision occurred.”
“Subsequently, the rider of the motorcycle was ejected and the Suzuki fell over onto its right side,” Jimenez said. “The motorcycle rider was then struck by the left rear tires of a tractor-trailer combination and sustained fatal injuries as a result.”
CHP officials issued a Sig Alert for more than two hours for the right two lanes of the transition road as they cleared the wreckage and conducted an investigation.
No arrests were made as the investigation continued, officials said.
Any witnesses or anyone with information was asked to contact CHP Officer R. Green at the Baldwin Park office of the CHP at 626-338-1164.

MADD hosts vigil in Diamond Bar in wake of alleged DUI crash that killed 6

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Brian Day

DIAMOND BAR — Three days after six people lost their lives in a head-on crash blamed on a drunken driver on the 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar, Mothers Against Drunk Driving hosted a vigil Wednesday to urge the public to stop drinking and driving to prevent more deaths.
Families affected or shattered by intoxicated drivers joined with MADD officials and Sgt. Daniel Dail of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Traffic Services Detail at the Diamond Bar Center to highlight the human toll taken by the crime of DUI.
While violent crimes often garner the most media attention, “You have a better chance in the United States of being killed by a drunk driver than getting shot,” Dail said.
And MADD Los Angeles/Ventura Affiliate Executive Director Patricia Rillera pointed out that nationally, a third of all suspects involved in DUI-related crashed have previous DUI conviction. The alleged drunken driver in Sunday’s crash had only recently had restrictions to her driver’s license lifted due to a previous DUI conviction when she caused the collision.
“They’re repeat offenders,” Rillera said. “We need to have tougher penalties.”
A moment of silence was held for the six victims who died in the early-morning crash on the westbound 60 Freeway, just west of Phillips Ranch Road.
Two young women riding in a Chevrolet Camaro along with alleged drunken driver Olivia Culbreath, 21, of Fontana were killed in the crash. They were identified as Kristin Melissa Young, 21, of Chino; and Culbreath’s 24-year-old sister, Maya Louise Culbreath of Rialto.
Olivia Culbreath remained hospitalized with serious injuries Wednesday and was expected to face charges of DUI and vehicular manslaughter in connection with the fatal crash. Because she has a previous DUI conviction, the case could potentially be charged as a murder.
Four family members, representing three generations of a Huntington Park family, also died when the Camaro slammed head-on into their Ford Explorer as they were driving down the freeway. They were identified as Gregorio Mejia-Martinez, 47, Leticia Ibarra, 42, Jessica Jasmine Mejia, 20, and Ester Delgado, described as in her 80s.
Those gathered Wednesday urged the public to take the time and effort to find a ride or call for a taxi instead of getting behind the wheel after drinking.
Rich and Diana Thrower of Buena Park know the pain one person can inflict after making the decision to drive while under the influence. They lost their 21-year-old son, Michael Zuniga of Whittier, on March 16, 2012. He was a passenger in a car driven by 19-year-old David Darocha of Whittier — who officials said was drunk — when the car crashed at Mills Avenue and Telegraph Road in unincorporated South Whittier, killing both young men.
“No family should have to go through the horror we went through,” Diana Thrower said. “It ripped the family apart, and it all could have been prevented by a phone call.”
“Our hearts go out to the families affected by this accident this past weekend,” she said.
And she said one of the most difficult aspects of dealing with a death caused by a DUI driver is the fact that it’s entirely preventable.
“Make a phone call. Call a cab. There’s options out there,” she urged.
Annette Barrera, 20, of South Gate, who was struck and badly injured by a drunken driver while walking in Lynwood in 2012, and her mother Helen Arellanes also encouraged drivers to never drive while intoxicated.
“I just turned 20. I haven’t even started my life yet,” said Barrera, who still uses a wheelchair and deals with injuries suffered in the crash daily.
But through outreach work with MADD, Barrera said she hopes to help prevent future tragedies by telling her story to others, especially fellow young people.
And despite the obstacles she faces as the result of a DUI driver, Barrera keeps a positive outlook and her sense of humor.
“I have a lot that I could abhor and just hate, but I laugh, because it’s better medicine,” she said.
Rillera said MADD doesn’t ask that people give up drinking.
What we’re asking as that you drink responsibly,” she said.

PHOTO Diana Thrower of buena Park holds a picture of her son, 21-year-old Michael Zuniga, who died in a DUI-related crash in March of 2012 during a MADD vigil in Diamond Bar on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (By Sarah Reingewirtz)

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