Gustavo Reulas Jr. Charged With Murder In Inglewood Crash That Killed 2
INGLEWOOD (CBSLA) — A 42-year-old man Friday was charged with murder in connection with a Wednesday night crash in Inglewood during a pursuit that left two dead.
According to prosecutors, Gustavo Ruelas Jr. is set to be arraigned Monday on two counts each of murder and fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle causing death and one count each of hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious injury to another person, possession for sale of heroin and possession for sale of methamphetamine.
Police said Ruelas was allegedly speeding in a blue Dodge pickup truck and ran a red light on Century Boulevard at about 10:35 p.m. before getting on the northbound 405 Freeway where officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
According to California Highway Patrol, Ruelas fled from the officers, exited the freeway at Manchester Avenue and led police on a pursuit through the streets of Inglewood before turning north on Glasgow Avenue and crashing into the sedan on Olive Street.
Security video from a nearby business showed Ruelas attempting to run from the scene, but CHP said officers were able to take him into custody a short time later.
The two victims were trapped in he wreckage and had to be freed by firefighters. The woman, identified by the coroner as 22-year-old Asia Boatwright, died at the scene. The man, identified by family as 27-year-old Ryan Davis, was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
Ruelas, who prosecutors said has prior convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude a pursuing peace officer and a drug offense, remained behind bars Friday in lieu of $2 million bail, according to jail records.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)