The parents of one of two spectators killed during an illegal drag race in Chatsworth in February are suing a pair of men, one of whom is accused of being a driver in the race and the other the individual who allegedly acted as the competition’s starter.
Reynaldo and Maria Perez-Siguenza, the father and mother of Eric Siguenza, filed the suit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Henry Michael Gevorgyan and Israel Valenzuela. The complaint alleges negligence, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages.
Attorneys for Valenzuela and Gevorgyan could not be immediately reached.
Outside of the civil suit, Valenzuela, 38, of Los Angeles, and Gevorgyan, 21, are each accused in Los Angeles Superior Court of two counts of murder and one count of engaging in a speed contest on a highway causing a concussion. The latter charge pertains to a third man who was injured during the incident.
Eric Siguenza, 26, of Los Angeles, and Wilson Thomas Wong, 50, of Torrance, were killed about 2:05 a.m. Feb. 26 in the 21400 block of Plummer Street, near Canoga Avenue.
According to the lawsuit, Gevorgyan owned a Mustang that he allowed to be driven by a racer who has yet to be identified. Meanwhile, Valenzuela was behind the wheel of a Nissan and was racing the Mustang, according to the complaint. The Nissan owner’s identity also is still unknown, the suit states.
Soon after Gevorgyan signaled for the race to start, the Mustang driver lost control and the car careened into the sidewalk, striking Eric Siguenza, the suit alleges.
Gevorgyan and Valenzuela left and did not attempt to help Siguenza, according to the lawsuit. If convicted as charged, they could each face up to 33 years to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
— City News Service