Azusa PD Arrest Man For Fatal 4th of July Crash

             Arcadio Varela Caliz, arrested for murder.On July 4^th, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. the Azusa Police Department received several telephone calls regarding a single vehicle that had driven off the roadway of Highway 39, approximately ½ mile north of the U.S. Forestry Information Booth. Click here to read the original news release.

When officers arrived on scene, they located a vehicle down a steep ravine.  The vehicle had come to rest on its roof.  Several Azusa Police Officers traversed the steep hillside and upon arriving at the vehicle, they discovered five victims.  A 31 year old male, a 32 year old female and a 13 year old female were found alive outside the vehicle suffering from undetermined injuries.  A 12 year old female, with a July 4^th birthday, and a seven year old male were found deceased also outside of the vehicle.

Emergency personnel from Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, as well as the Azusa Police Department participated in the rescue.  The subsequent investigation revealed that both alcohol and speed contributed to this fatality.  The investigation also revealed that the driver was the father of the deceased children.

On October 5^th, 2015, Azusa Police Department Traffic Collision Investigators presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.  Two counts of murder were filed against the driver, Arcadio Varela Caliz, age 31 and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

On October 6^th, 2015, Arcadio Varela Caliz was arrested at the Azusa Police Department without incident.  His bail has been set at 2 million dollars.