Leonardo Rodriguez from Pico Rivera received a sentence of five years and four months in state prison for his involvement as the driver in a 2024 crash that claimed two lives on U.S. 101 in Newbury Park. This sentencing was handed down by the Ventura County district attorney’s office.
Rodriguez, aged 21, drove a black Honda Accord at high speeds, specifically 124 mph, in an attempt to pass a vehicle using the shoulder of the road. The incident occurred near Thousand Oaks early on October 31, 2024. His vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder, leading to the deaths of his girlfriend, Serenity Rizkalla, and a friend, Michael Estrella. Both were ejected from the car and died at the scene.
Rodriguez, along with another friend who was in the car, only sustained minor injuries. Deputy District Attorney George Brietigam emphasized that the tragedy was preventable and expressed hope that the sentence would provide some closure to the victims’ families.
Rodriguez had pleaded guilty to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in June.
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