3 Killed in Suspected DUI Crash in Norwalk

The medical examiner’s office released, on July 17, the names of two of three people killed in a multiple-vehicle crash on the Santa Ana 5 Freeway in Norwalk.

The crash was reported at 2:22 a.m. on July 16 on the northbound Santa Ana Freeway south of Florence Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The chain of events started at about 2:20 a.m. when a 2017 Honda hit a sound wall and the vehicle became disabled, CHP said. The driver of a Hadley’s tow truck stopped behind the disabled Honda.

Then Hector Rivero of Pico Rivera crashed a 2011 Kia into the tow truck, killing his passenger, described as a 32-year-old Pico Rivera woman. Her name has not yet been released.

A 2016 Toyota driven by 22-year-old Luis Marroquin also crashed into the tow truck, killing two passengers, identified by the medical examiner’s office as 41-year-old Luis Marroquin and 40-year-old Joel Araujo. Highway patrol said both Marroquins were from Pomona and Araujo was an Azusa resident.

The two men and the woman were pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP reported.

Rivero and the 22-year-old Marroquin were taken to Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment of major injuries, highway patrol agents said. They were also arrested for suspicion of felony DUI.

The Honda driver, identified as 23-year-old Clarence Hill, was arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor DUI.