An unlicensed 18-year-old driver from Santa Ana has been charged with vehicular manslaughter after leading police in Orange County on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash and claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl who was in the car with him, authorities announced Thursday.
The fatal incident occurred on March 8 when officers with the Orange Police Department responded to reports of a stolen vehicle.
When police initially stopped the vehicle, they found three people inside the car, including the 18-year-old driver, identified as Izaiah Joseph Miranda, and two teens from Orangewood Children’s Home, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Two of the teens initially complied with police orders to exit the vehicle. The teen who had been in the front passenger seat was arrested, but the 15-year-old girl, later identified as Denisse Pilego Roman, suddenly jumped into the front passenger seat of the vehicle as Miranda sped off.
During the pursuit, prosecutors say Miranda hit speeds of 12 miles per hour on the 22 Freeway who leading police in a pursuit from Orange to Long Beach where he ran a redlight and was struck by another vehicle, leading to a crash that severely injured teen girl.
“Miranda is accused of running from the collision, leaving the injured girl in the passenger seat of the stolen car,” prosecutors said in the release.
Roman was rushed to the hospital in serious condition and died several days later.
“A 15-year-old girl is dead because she decided to get back in a stolen vehicle with a driver who tried to outrun the police at speeds topping 120 miles per hour,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “This car thief not only killed a 15-year-old girl, he endangered the lives of the law enforcement officers pursing him and every other driver on the road who had no idea they were in the middle of a high-speed police pursuit.”
The 18-year-old is facing charges that include:
- One felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
- One felony count of hit-and-run with permanent injury or death
- One felony count of evading while driving recklessly causing death
- One felony count of child abuse and endangerment
- One felony enhancement of fleeing the scene after committing vehicular manslaughter
If convicted on all counts, Miranda faces a maximum of 12 years and four months in state prison.