A Santa Fe Springs man who allegedly led police on a pursuit that ended with a fiery crash in Whittier that killed a man was charged Thursday with murder and other counts.
Kevin Vargas, 24, was set to be arraigned Thursday afternoon at the Bellflower courthouse in connection with the crash Monday that killed Isaias Rodrigues Cruz, 61.
Vargas is charged with one count each of murder, fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle causing death and hit-and-run driving resulting in death, along with four counts of assault upon a peace officer..
The charges include an allegation that he was free on his own recognizance in a pending case in which he is charged with one count of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle while driving recklessly and two DUI counts. He had been released from jail in that case over the prosecution’s objection, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
On Monday morning, Vargas allegedly fled from police after they tried to stop him for a traffic violation. A brief pursuit ensued in which the driver allegedly drove toward at least three patrol cars, forcing the officers to take evasive action.
Vargas then allegedly collided with the victim’s Ford Explorer in the area of Greenleaf Avenue and Whittier Boulevard, where his own vehicle burst into flames. He was arrested after escaping from the car and fleeing the scene of the crash, police said.