DUI Driver Collides with an Oncoming Car, Killing a Passenger

Los Angeles: A suspected lone driver escaped serious injury when he collided with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, critically injuring the driver and leaving his passenger dead.

On December 15, 2008, at 9:15 p.m., 31-year-old Marlon Roldan of Wilmington was driving a 2000 Chevrolet van westbound on Anaheim Street near Foote Street.  He was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle and veered into opposing traffic lanes.  

Roldan’s vehicle collided into a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer that was traveling eastbound on Anaheim Street.  That vehicle’s driver, a 22-year-old resident of Long Beach, was critically injured, and his younger brother and front seat passenger, Lionel Molina, 17 years of age, was killed.  They were returning home from church when the collision occurred.

Roldan received non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.  He was treated and released from a local hospital and subsequently booked for suspicion of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Traffic Division Detectives Jimmy Render or Sandra Smith at 213-485-7336 or 323-290-6063.  After-hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to the 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD24-7 (527-3247) or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org., and can remain anonymous.