News Summary
Gregory Black, 34, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison after a high-speed crash in South Los Angeles that killed two sisters and their friend. Family of the victims expressed disappointment with the plea deal, wishing for a harsher sentence. The tragic incident, caused by Black speeding while on probation, highlights the consequences of reckless driving and its impact on innocent lives.
Los Angeles – A Los Angeles man was sentenced to 26 years in state prison on May 5, 2023, following a high-speed crash that resulted in the deaths of two sisters and their friend. Gregory Black, 34, accepted a plea deal that included an 18-year sentence for violating probation and an additional 8 years for three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Family members of the victims expressed disappointment with the plea agreement, as they had sought a more severe sentence of 25 years to life for each victim. Araceli Izquierdo, mother of the deceased, highlighted her frustration by expressing a desire for justice, wishing that Black would “pay for life” similar to the loss her family has endured.
The fatal crash occurred on August 26, 2022, at the intersection of South Vermont Avenue and West Century Boulevard in South Los Angeles. At the time of the incident, Black was on probation for a 2021 attempted murder case. Reports indicate that Black sped through a red light, T-boning an Uber vehicle that was carrying the victims, who included sisters Kimberly Izquierdo, 27, and Veronica Amezola, 23, both from Santa Ana, and their childhood friend Juvelyn Arroyo, 23, from San Juan Capistrano. The impact caused the Uber to spin five times counter-clockwise before colliding with a wall.
In addition to the fatalities, three other passengers in the Uber suffered critical injuries as a result of the crash. This tragic incident has sparked widespread media attention, emphasizing the need for accountability in cases of reckless driving and the devastating effects such actions can have on innocent lives.
Jose Izquierdo, brother of the two victims, expressed frustration over the legal process, mentioning that the family was under the impression that the case would go to trial until just two weeks before the sentencing hearing. This late change in direction caused additional emotional distress for the family, who were preparing to seek justice for their loved ones in a courtroom.
Throughout the court proceedings, family and friends of the victims supported one another by wearing matching memorial shirts and sharing heartfelt victim impact statements. Valeria Amezola, the younger sister of Kimberly and Veronica, conveyed the emotional turmoil caused by the absence of her sisters during significant moments in her life. Furthermore, Sheila Blancarte, a childhood friend of Veronica, shared how her loss has deeply affected her, describing Veronica as a protector and a beacon of strength in her life.
The case raises important discussions surrounding justice, the legal system’s handling of serious traffic offenses, and the need for stringent measures to deter reckless driving. As the community mourns the loss of the victims, the tragic event serves as a reminder of the ongoing issue of road safety and the impact that individual actions can have on entire families and communities.
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: Driver in Pepperdine Students’ Deaths Trial
- Wikipedia: Traffic Collision
- ABC7: Nurse Pleads Not Guilty in Fiery Crash
- Google Search: Vehicular Manslaughter
- LA Times: Deputy Pleads to Vehicular Manslaughter
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Vehicular Manslaughter
- NBC Los Angeles: Mission Viejo DUI Crash
- Google News: Reckless Driving
