Man arrested in fatal Pomona street race that left 3 dead in 2002
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office has filed three counts of vehicular manslaughter and another count of felony hit-and-run against a Montclair man in connection with a December 2002 street race collision that killed three men, according to authorities.
Roque Torres, 28, was arrested Tuesday at his home after police investigations pointed to him as being the driver of a red 2002 Acura RSX that fled the scene on Dec. 20, 2002. Officials from the Pomona Police Department said Torres was racing against a 1993 Honda that smashed into a van on Garey Avenue north of Philadelphia Street in Pomona.
Police said the cars involved in the race were hitting speeds of about 100 mph, according to witnesses.
The three occupants of the Honda -- Jamael Johnson, 22, Jose Issac Batres, 26, and Carlos Mendoza, 20 — all residents of Pomona, died from injuries suffered during the collision.
Torres' car was not struck and he left the scene after the crash, police said.
The case went cold until late last year, when officers from the Pomona Police Department's Traffic Services Unit received new information about the fatal crash. Police were able to locate the Acura, which had been repainted several times and sold since the collision, authorities said.
Torres was eventually identified as the registered owner of the car. He is being held at Pomona Police Jail on $200,000 bail, police said.
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
What doesn't come out in the wash always comes out inl the rinse!
Posted by: Nickie02 | February 10, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Good work Pomona PD Detectives. Way to hang with to bring a murder to justice.
Posted by: My view means nothing | February 10, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Nice police work, guys. I'm sure he thought he'd gotten away with it after all these years.
Posted by: Marcy | February 10, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Yup...all dark things come to light.
Posted by: Akaneke | February 10, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Wonderful news, You can run but you just can't hide, sooner or later you will get caught. That idiot didn't think it was going to happen to him but when someone dies because of poor judgement the cops will never stop looking. I am glad this day has come.
Posted by: smellsofpoo | February 10, 2011 at 09:03 PM
So, uh, its his fault someone chose to race him with 2 other individuals in his car? if anyones at fault here, its the driver who crashed, when you race, everyones guilty, not just the guy who got away.
Posted by: danny | February 11, 2011 at 11:16 AM
yeah I don't understand. how is he a murderer? I can see him getting busted for leaving the scene of the crash and not calling anyone to help. but he didn't force those guys to race him nor did he kill them. he just got scared and booked it after it went down. what was he like 19 at the time?
Posted by: A-RON | February 11, 2011 at 04:33 PM
well he shouldnt be racing weather he crash or not...and i understand he didnt killed them but he had something to do with it cause he was taunting them to race.....but he shouldve stop no matter wat to see if they were ok or not
Posted by: czar chavez | April 15, 2011 at 01:05 PM
well its easy 2 point fingers but me truly think that Mr torses could of stop and help may be my brother or my friends could of survive, its hard 2 say but he didn't try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when u race u race no one is 2 blame 4 u choose Ur path if Ur a racer u should know best stop and help stick 2 gather we all in the same game Honda Subaru, Toyota, any imports and any racer , nothing will bring them back we loved them and miss them team 2 slick 4 ever
Posted by: david aka jr team 2 slick | April 15, 2011 at 01:28 PM