Leonardo Rodriguez sentenced for fatal 124-mph Highway 101 crash

Leonardo Rodriguez of Pico Rivera has been sentenced to five years and four months in state prison following a high-speed crash on Highway 101 in October 2024. The incident resulted in the deaths of Serenity Rizkalla and Michael Estrella.

Prosecutors stated that Rodriguez was driving a black Honda Accord southbound at approximately 124 mph when he attempted to pass a vehicle in the slow lane by using the shoulder. During the maneuver, the vehicle collided with a parked tractor-trailer on the shoulder. The impact ejected both Rizkalla and Estrella from the car; both were pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger survived with minor injuries, and Rodriguez also sustained minor injuries.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in June. Local officials noted that while the crash was captured on dashboard camera, there was no evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved in the collision.