Driver Charged With Double Murder In Fiery 605 Freeway Crash

BELLFLOWER, CA — A man with a prior DUI conviction was charged Thursday with murder and driving under the influence in connection with a fiery crash on the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway in Norwalk that left two people dead.

Alex Barragan, 31, of Norwalk, is scheduled to be arraigned at the Bellflower courthouse on two counts of murder and one count each of driving under the influence of alcohol within 10 years of another DUI offense and driving with a 0.08 percent blood-alcohol content causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The charges include allegations that he caused great bodily injury and that he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.20 percent or more, which is nearly three times the legal limit.

According to the criminal complaint, Barragan was convicted of driving under the influence in Orange County in 2014.

Barragan was behind the wheel of a 2006 Infiniti M45 sedan about 1 a.m. Monday when it collided in the No. 3 lane with a 1999 Ford Winstar van that had become disabled on the northbound 605 Freeway near Rosecrans Avenue, according to a preliminary investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

"Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest within the No. 2 lane and became fully engulfed in flames," the CHP reported.

A 52-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman -- both from Paramount -- died at the scene, and a 7-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman in the van were injured, according to the CHP.

Barragan and his 22-year-old female passenger suffered minor injuries, the CHP said.

Barragan, who was arrested about an hour after the crash, could face up to 44 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock