Southern California Woman Charged in Deadly Hit-and-Run

A 24-year-old woman from Southern California is facing serious charges after being linked to a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the deaths of two people last Sunday. She was previously accused of killing a bicyclist with her car last October.

Akeyajanik Owens has been charged this week with vehicular manslaughter, as prosecutors claim she was responsible for hitting a bicyclist in downtown Long Beach last year. Reports indicate that during an incident on January 4, around 10 p.m., she crashed into a Nissan Altima, which turned fatal, leading to the deaths of two individuals.

In connection with this latest crash, Owens’ 2021 BMW 330i collided with a Kia Soul, causing injuries to three additional people, according to police investigators. Prosecutors highlighted that Owens was allegedly speeding over 100 mph during both incidents.

Notably, Owens was absent from the scene of Sunday’s crash when emergency services arrived. She reportedly surrendered to the police this week after becoming aware of her status as a suspect in the earlier crash from October and has since pleaded not guilty. She is currently being held on a $200,000 bail.

A separate lawsuit concerning the January 4 incident is anticipated to be filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office soon. The bicyclist, Raul Augustin Garopa, 35, succumbed to his injuries days after the accident, while the fatalities from the January crash have been identified as Gilberto Lopez, 21, and Bobby Smith, 24.

Bobby Smith’s cousin expressed her concerns about the situation. She mentioned how distressing it is that someone with a previous incident could cause even more harm, saying they seek justice not just for their family but for all the victims involved.

According to traffic investigators, forensic evidence and video footage were crucial in identifying Owens as a suspect in the recent collision. However, authorities have not clarified if street racing was a factor in this accident.