Suspected driver in crash that left three dead charged with manslaughter – San Gabriel Valley Tribune

A driver whose three passengers died when their SUV crashed into a tree, a wall and three cars at high speed in Monterey Park was charged this week with killing the occupants while drunk.

One victim was ejected and landed on a roof. The driver, 28-year-old Desiree Helen Perez of Monterey Park, and her 7-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

In addition to three counts of intoxicated manslaughter, prosecutors on Monday, July 1, charged Perez with child abuse under circumstances likely to result in serious bodily injury or death, said Venusse Dunn, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office.

Perez pleaded not guilty to the charges in Alhambra Superior Court on Monday, Dunn said.

According to the coroner, the three dead are Alexander Cota Jr., 34, of Alhambra, Denise Guereca, 54, of Monterey Park and Randy Guereca, 33, of Monterey Park.

Perez was driving a Jeep Cherokee west on Graves Avenue in the early morning hours of June 28.

As of Wednesday, Perez has been held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood on $500,000 bail.