Two Accused of Killing Elderly Woman in West Covina Crash to Stand Trial

A Superior Court judge today ordered two drivers, accused of street racing in West Covina and causing a crash that killed a 90- year-old woman on Christmas night, to stand trial.

Vincent Lopez, 30, and Victor Hugo Sanchez, 34, are charged with murder and drunken driving. The two are accused of taking part in a street race Dec. 25, that ended when a vehicle driven by Lopez slammed into a van, killing Cilia La Torre, who was in a wheelchair in the back of the van.

La Torre had just been released from Queen of the Valley Hospital and was sitting in the wheelchair in the van being driven by her son, Jaime Ochoa, police said.

The woman was thrown from the van by the impact of the crash, and pronounced dead at the scene. Ochoa was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was treated for head trauma, authorities said.

Evidence presented during a preliminary hearing at the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles was found sufficient to hold the defendants to stand trial.

Police said Lopez and Sanchez were seen street racing on Lark Ellen Avenue moments before the crash.

Before the crash, witnesses reported seeing Lopez and Sanchez run a stop sign at the corner of Lark Ellen and Merced avenues, near the collision site, police said.

Both had been drinking in a bar in the 200 block of South Glendora Avenue about an hour earlier, detectives said.

Following the crash, Lopez was taken to the Queen of the Valley Hospital for treatment of leg injuries. Sanchez was arrested several hours later.

Both men face sentences of life in prison with the possibility of parole if convicted.