Driver Leaving Great-Grandma's Wake Crashes, Killing Grandma, Dad's Girlfriend

SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) -- A deadly hit-and-run crash claimed the lives of the suspected driver's own family.

The suspect is now in custody – police have identified him as 22-year-old Valentino Alvarez. His own grandmother, Elizabeth Hernandez, was killed along with his dad's girlfriend Lisa Fitzpatrick.

His father, Raymond Alvarez, is in the hospital with major life-threatening injuries.

Police say Valentino Alvarez slammed his car into the back end of a semi-trailer, and then flagged down an oncoming car which drove him away from the scene.

"It was just a tremendous crash and I saw them roll and go into the ditch and then flip into the ditch," said witness Steven Shaw.

Shaw was already looking outside his window at the scene of another car crash, and the next thing he knew he was watching a second crash happening right before his eyes.

"The car just slammed straight into the back of the semi-trailer, and we were the first ones to call 9-1-1," Shaw said.

Shaw says the crash was so intense the molding from the suspect's windshield was ingrained in the rear-end of the semi-trailer it hit.

California Highway Patrol says Valentino Alvarez was coming back from his great-grandmother's wake in Hood Wednesday night; he was driving a Chrysler 300 with his grandmother, father and his father's girlfriend as passengers.

The women died, and the suspect's father was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"Physical evidence at the scene indicated Alvarez may have been under the influence of alcoholic beverages," said CHP Officer Michael Bradley.

Investigators are also looking into whether speed played a role in the deadly crash.

The intersection of Hood-Franklin and Stone Lake Roads remain littered with shattered glass after a night of mayhem.

"We don't know what his mental state is, whether he wants to turn himself in or wants to shelter in place or be combative; that puts officers and other people at risk," Officer Bradley added.

CHP confirms Alvarez does not have a valid driver's license. He is currently on probation for auto-theft, and is now facing charges of felony hit-and-run, vehicular manslaughter and possibly driving under the influence.