Edgar Verduzco, Off-Duty LAPD Officer, Arrested After Suspected DUI Crash Kills 3

An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer was arrested Wednesday for allegedly speeding on a freeway in Santa Fe Springs and causing a crash that killed a family of three while he was under the influence, according to a statement by the department.

According to reports, around 10:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, the officer, Edgar Verduzco, was driving on the carpool lane of the 605 Freeway in Wittier, California, when he steered into the fast lane and collided with the rear of a Nissan carrying a couple and their son.

The collision triggered a blaze which killed the family. Verduzco sustained a broken nose in the accident. The deceased were identified by family members as Mario and Maribel and their 19-year-old son Oscar Davila, CW affilitate KTLA reported.

The 26-year-old was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter, according to the Mercury News.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Sgt. Armando Perdomo said Verduzco appeared to have been drinking.

CHP Officer Al Perez added there were no open containers or alcohol in the car, but Verduzco showed symptoms of intoxication, the Los Angeles Times reported.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck on Wednesday expressed anger over what happened: “I cannot tell you how angry and disappointed I am that a Los Angeles police officer would disregard the law and cause such an accident with such awful, awful consequences,” Beck said. “As soon as I heard that a family of three had been killed in a horrific accident, my heart went out to the family and their friends.”

Beck also told reporters that Verduzcon’s career was “unremarkable."

“His two years were unremarkable,” the chief told reporters. “He came to us from the U.S. Army where he did almost four years. I believe he served in Afghanistan.” The chief added later Verduzco “worked the desk.”

“He was a very young police officer, not much time on the job,” he added. “Very unremarkable career.”

The LAPD also released a statement regarding the incident: “The LAPD has initiated an administrative investigation and will work with the CHP as they continue their investigation, however the Department as no tolerance for driving under the influence and holds its officers to the highest standards of professionalism both on and off duty,” part of the statementread.

KTLA also reported that hours before the crash, an Instagram account belonging to the officer posted an animated video from a bar at around 7 p.m., showing beer in the background and a warning about risks of drinking and driving.

The 10-second video reportedly featured an animated character sitting in a red car and honking the horn, with a message "#dontdrinkanddrive" written underneath.

A second video posted a few hours later, shows a group of people playing Jenga in the same location.

Although it was not confirmed whether the account belongs to Verduzco, KTLA stated that the pictures posted on it indicated that it was Verduzco’s.