News Releases

August 16, 2021: Man Charged With Killing Girlfriend, Injuring Children in Wrong-Way Crash on the 101 Freeway

Contact: 
Greg Risling, Assistant Media Chief
(213) 257-2000

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that a man was charged today for murdering his girlfriend and trying to kill their four children when he allegedly crashed his vehicle into oncoming traffic on the 101 Freeway last week.

“A family has been torn apart by this tragic collision that leaves four young children without their mother,” District Attorney Gascón said.

Cesar Iban Torres (dob 2/5/90) was charged in case LA095362 with one count of murder, four counts each of attempted murder and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and one count each of assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Department 100 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Van Nuys Branch.  

On August 12, Torres was driving his SUV on the 101 Freeway in Encino when he allegedly went into oncoming traffic and struck a tractor trailer. His 26-year-old girlfriend, Aimee Garcia, was killed and the couple’s four children, ages 1 to 7, suffered moderate injuries.

The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene and resisting arrest.

The case remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.