SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (KABC) -- The families of two people killed in a fiery chain-reaction crash on the 605 Freeway in Norwalk announced Tuesday they are filing a claim against the California Highway Patrol, alleging an officer's negligence led to the deadly incident.
The July 20 crash killed four people in total, including 23-year-old Julie Hamori and 24-year-old Armand Del Campo.
Hamori, Del Campo and two others were driving home from a concert when a CHP cruiser rear-ended their car and disabled it, according to attorneys representing the families of Hamori and Del Campo.
The families claim the CHP officer moved his patrol car to a safe location but left the other car stranded in the fast lane of the 605 Freeway. A short time later, an alleged drunken driver crashed into the car, killing all four people inside.
"We also know that at least seven minutes passed from the time of the first crash when the CHP (vehicle slammed) into the back of Julie's car until the deadly crash," Thomas Feher, the families' attorney, said at a news conference. "It appears that CHP may have also left the scene between that time."
The families claim the CHP officer didn't put out flares or warning lights, leaving the victims' vehicle as a "sitting duck."
Del Campo's mother Angie Reed was emotional as she spoke at the news conference.
"There are four families that are shattered, and four beautiful children that will never come home," she said.
"As a mother, going through the grief of losing your son is one thing, but to understand - try to understand the circumstances and not having the answers and have so many what ifs is heartbreaking and frustrating," Reed added.
Hamori and Del Campo were going to get married. Hamori already had her wedding dress.
"That wedding dress would've fit her perfectly," Hamori's aunt Kathy Stickel said.
CHP said in a statement, "This was a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families impacted by this incident. Both crashes remain under investigation; we are unable to provide further comment at this time."
Now that the families have filed a claim, the CHP will have 45 days to respond. After that, the families can file a lawsuit.