3 women dead after grisly crash involving DUI driver in Pomona

Three women were killed and two others injured during a crash with a DUI driver in Pomona late Saturday evening. 

The crash happened just before 11 p.m. at the intersection of White Avenue and Phillips Boulevard, according to Pomona Police Department. 

Officers arrived on scene and found that two cars were involved in the crash, which left "all involved parties" with moderate to severe injuries. 

Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment where one succumbed to their injuries. 

Neighbors living in the area recalled the violent crash, which many of them could hear through the walls of their homes. 

"Just like a bomb exploded," said Derek Tauzh, who lives nearby and called 911 after seeing the crash just steps from the front of his home. "All my walls of house shaking."

Police arrested one man, identified as 36-year-old Victor Siharath of Pomona, for felony DUI. They say that he was driving an SUV when he slammed into the other car, which had five people inside.

The women have been identified as Montclair resident Lorena Morales, 58, and Pomona residents Alejandra Olaez, 33, and Yesenia Ochoa, 33. Family members tell KCAL News that the three women were all on their way home from a baby shower when the crash occurred. 

Morales' husband and Olaez's 12-year-old daughter both suffered critical injuries in the crash as well. 

Late Sunday, family and friends of the victims could be seen gathered near the crash site where a memorial continued to grow. 

Despite Siharath's arrest, family members say that they want more justice to be served. 

"I was really close to my godmother. It's really affected me more," said Ivette Lopez, a family member of the victims. "I just wish he gets what he deserves and he also regrets for his actions."

Lopez says that the two women who died at the scene were protecting another passenger of the car from being injured at the point of impact.

On Tuesday, Siharath was charged with three counts of murder and one count of DUI causing bodily injury, according to Los Angeles County prosecutors. 

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón spoke at a news conference on Tuesday in which he announced the charges against Siharath, noting that he was already convicted of DUI in 2014 at which time he was given a legal warning that if he drove drunk again and caused a death that he could be charged with murder.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2155.