A man from Pico Rivera has received a prison sentence of five years and four months for his involvement in a tragic accident that resulted in the death of two people. The crash occurred on U.S. 101 in Newbury Park in 2024.
Leonardo Rodriguez, aged 21, was driving a black Honda Accord at high speed on the morning of October 31, 2024. According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, Rodriguez attempted to pass another vehicle using the shoulder of the road, reaching a speed of 124 mph. In the process, he collided with a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder.
The impact was devastating. It ejected his girlfriend, Serenity Rizkalla, and his friend, Michael Estrella, from the vehicle. Both were declared dead at the scene. Rodriguez, along with another friend in the car, sustained minor injuries.
“This tragedy was preventable, and the families of the victims will endure the consequences forever,”
said Deputy District Attorney George Brietigam. He expressed hope that the sentence brings some closure to the families affected by the incident.
In June, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. His conviction marks a significant moment in a case that has deeply affected the families of the deceased.