18 year old man charged with murder in connection with a fatal traffic collision.
On December 17, 2014, at approximately 2:40 in the afternoon, California Highway Patrol officers assigned to the Santa Fe Springs Area were dispatched to the scene of a two-vehicle injury collision on Halliburton Road at Duranzo Drive, in the unincorporated city of Hacienda Heights. The investigating officer determined that Aron Harutun Petrosian (now 18 years of age, but 17 at the time of the collision) was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS east on Halliburton Road, approaching Durazno Drive, at a high rate of speed. The posted speed limit in this area is 40 MPH.
A local resident, 42-year old Bertha Alicia Rosales, was with her two children in a 2007 BMW 328i, north on Durazno Drive, stopped at the intersection with Halliburton Road, preparing to turn left. Because Mr. Petrosian was driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed, a collision occurred when the BMW entered the intersection and was broadsided by Petrosian’s vehicle.
As a result of the collision, Rosales sustained fatal injuries and her two children sustained severe injuries. Santa Fe Springs CHP investigators conducted an extensive investigation, with the assistance of the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). MAIT conducts in-depth investigations and analysis of major traffic collisions. After obtaining a search warrant for the Air Bag Computer Module (aka black box) belonging to Mr. Petrosian’s vehicle, investigators were able to confirm the pre-impact speed of the vehicle. Investigators established that Mr. Petrosian was driving at such a high rate of speed, that it was the primary cause factor in the deadly collision.
On April 30, 2015, CHP officers arrested Mr. Petrosian pursuant to California Penal Code § 187 (a) – Murder. A criminal case was filed on May 1st, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for review and prosecution.
Young drivers often don’t recognize dangerous driving situations. Far too often, CHP officers see the deadly outcome when young drivers decide to speed. Not only does speed play a factor, but even the slightest distraction like reaching for a CD, can have devastating repercussions. The bulk of deadly collisions often involve a teen either at the hand of a reckless vehicle or unfortunately in the losing end, as a victim of a reckless driver.
Facts:
• In 2009, 3,242 teens ages 15-19 lost their lives in crashes. (Centers for Disease Control, 2009)
• Crashes are more common among young drivers than any other age group. In the United States, 1 in 4 crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups. (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
• Older child passengers, ages 12 to 17, are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children. This risk increases with each teenage year. The top three predictors for fatality are non-use of restraints, teen drivers and roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher. (Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, March 2008)
Using cell phones, eating or drinking, adjusting a radio, or simply talking with friends are all routine activities that teens engage in every day, but become life-threatening hazards when done behind the wheel.
The CHP offers and participates in a variety of programs aimed at California’s youth, including:
The Start Smart program is a driver safety education class which targets new and future licensed teenage drivers between the age of 15 - 19 and their parents/guardians.
Impact Teen Drivers is a non-profit, public awareness and education program designed to educate teens about the dangers of distracted driving.
The Every 15 Minutes program is focuses on high school juniors and seniors, which challenges them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others.
The Department’s mission is to save lives through enforcing California speed laws and educating all drivers on the dangers of driving too fast.
If you would like further information about this incident or if you would like information about our educational programs, please contact the CHP Southern Division Public Information Unit at 818-240-8200.
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