Former LAPD officer pleads guilty to murder for deadly drunk-driving crash

A former officer from the Los Angeles Police Department pleaded guilty to killing a family in 2017 during a drunk-driving crash. 

Edgar Verduzco will be sentenced on July 11 and faces three concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison for the three murder charges and one concurrent term of three years for driving under the influence and causing injuries. 

The deadly crash happened on Sept. 26, 2017, while Verduzco was off-duty. Prosecutors said he had a blood alcohol content above .08 while driving 150 mph on the 605 Freeway. He struck two vehicles, one of which collided with the center diver and burst into flames. 

Maribel Davila, her husband Mario Davila and their 19-year-old son Oscar Davila died in the crash. The two people inside of the other car, a mother and a baby in a car seat, suffered minor injuries. 

"As a police officer, Mr. Verduzco was aware that recklessly driving under the influence of alcohol at 150 miles per hour was extremely dangerous to human life and could result in the death of innocent victims, as it tragically did in this case," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.  

Hochman added that Davila was attending UC Riverside when he died. He has four surviving siblings. 

"My support and sympathy go out to the Davila family's loved ones, including Oscar's four surviving siblings," Hochman said.