Two California parents on their way home from church were killed, and their adult daughter was left with what relatives describe as life-altering injuries after a late-night collision in Santa Clarita. Deputies arrested another driver on suspicion of DUI, but officials have not released his name or announced formal charges.
TLDR
Patty and Genry Ortiz died, and their 25-year-old daughter Erin was gravely injured when their car was struck in a three-vehicle crash in Santa Clarita at 11:15 p.m. on February 6th, 2026. Deputies arrested another driver on suspicion of DUI, and prosecutors are now weighing potential felony charges.
Fatal Friday Night Collision
According to reporting by Lawandcrime and local television outlets, Patty and Genry Ortiz were driving home with their 25-year-old daughter, Erin, after an evening service at their church on February 6th, 2026. At about 11:15 p.m., their vehicle entered the intersection of Newhall Canyon Road and Bouquet Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, a city north of Los Angeles.
At that intersection, investigators say, another vehicle struck the Ortiz family car. The force of the impact reportedly pushed the family’s vehicle into a third car that was waiting in the intersection. That third driver has not been publicly identified, and authorities have not detailed any injuries for that person.
The Santa Clarita station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said one of the Ortiz parents was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to a hospital and later died as a result of injuries from the crash. The agency has not publicly specified which parent died at the scene and which died at the hospital.
Erin Ortiz survived, but relatives say her injuries are severe. She was transported from the scene for emergency treatment. A fundraising page organized by family friends states that she faces extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term support needs.
Family’s Account of Devastating Injuries
The couple’s son, Eder David Ortiz, has spoken publicly about the crash and his sister’s condition. In interviews with local broadcaster KABC, he described trying to balance grief with the immediate responsibility of supporting Erin.
He told KABC that he is “just trying to navigate emotions and make sure my sister’s okay.” Describing her condition, he said Erin was “definitely in some pain. Her wrist is very hurt. I mean, really, her whole body, she can’t really move.” In a separate interview with KTLA, he said she had suffered “a lot of fractures” but was doing better than the family initially feared.
A GoFundMe campaign created for the Ortiz family characterizes Erin’s condition as involving “severe and life-altering injuries” and emphasizes the length of her expected recovery. The fundraiser notes that she will require “extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and ongoing support,” including help with daily tasks while she heals.
Those descriptions have not been independently confirmed by medical records, which are confidential. However, the law enforcement account of the crash, the death of both parents, and Erin’s hospitalization are consistent across Lawandcrime’s reporting, KABC’s coverage, and the information shared on the fundraising page.
What Authorities Have Said About the Suspected DUI
Deputies at the scene administered a breath test to the driver, whom they believe caused the crash. According to Lawandcrime’s review of the initial statements, that driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Officials have not released his name, age, or any measured blood-alcohol content.
In the limited public statements so far, the Sheriff’s Department has described the driver as the person whose vehicle struck the Ortiz family car and then a third vehicle in the intersection. There has been no public announcement of formal charges or a booking photo, and no court docket for the case has been widely reported.
Agencies sometimes withhold a suspect’s name until a case is presented to prosecutors, until next-of-kin notifications are complete for those killed, or until investigators have completed initial interviews. In this case, officials have not publicly explained why the driver’s identity remains undisclosed, leaving a gap between the arrest on suspicion of DUI and the next visible steps in the criminal process.
As of early February 2026, no outlet has reported that prosecutors have filed a complaint or indictment related to the crash. That means the case appears to be in the investigative and review phase, before any arraignment or court-ordered conditions are in place.
From DUI Arrest to Potential Homicide Charges
The known facts place the Ortiz case in a category of crashes that often lead to serious felony filings in California, but each step must move through defined procedures. An arrest on suspicion of DUI is not itself a criminal charge. It is a basis for temporary detention and, in some cases, administrative license consequences.
After a fatal collision that involves suspected intoxication, law enforcement typically compiles collision reports, witness statements, and toxicology results, then forwards the case to the county district attorney’s office. Prosecutors decide whether to file charges such as DUI causing injury, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, or second-degree murder, depending on the evidence and the driver’s prior history.
In this case, public reporting confirms that two people died and at least one more person suffered serious bodily harm. Under California law, that level of harm usually triggers consideration of felony counts. However, without a filed complaint or public charging document, it is not yet clear which statutes, if any, prosecutors will invoke against the arrested driver.
The gap between a high-profile arrest and formal charges can be confusing for families and community members. Toxicology results can take time, and prosecutors may seek collision reconstruction or additional expert analysis, particularly when multiple vehicles are involved. The lack of an immediate public filing does not mean a case has been dropped, but it also does not guarantee that the most serious potential charges will ultimately be pursued.
Context on DUI Crashes and Enforcement
Federal transportation data have consistently shown that alcohol-impaired driving remains a major factor in traffic fatalities nationwide. In California, where driving is central to daily life in many regions, law enforcement agencies regularly conduct DUI patrols and checkpoints, particularly around weekends and holidays.
Santa Clarita, part of Los Angeles County, has seen other high-profile DUI cases in recent years, including wrong-way crashes and incidents involving young drivers. According to local reporting, those cases have at times resulted in charges ranging from misdemeanors to long prison sentences, depending on whether anyone was injured or killed and whether the drivers had prior DUI convictions.
The Ortiz crash highlights an aspect of DUI enforcement that can be obscured by statistics. A single late-night decision to drive after alleged drinking has, according to the family’s account, left one child without parents and another facing months or years of recovery. At the same time, the driver who was arrested now faces the prospect of a felony case that could carry lengthy incarceration.
How prosecutors balance those realities, and what level of culpability they can prove in court, will determine the legal outcome. For now, the only public step is an arrest on suspicion of DUI.
Community Response and Ongoing Questions
In the weeks after a fatal crash, the clearest developments often occur not in courtrooms but in homes, hospitals, and community spaces. For the Ortiz family, relatives and friends have focused on arranging funerals, supporting Erin’s medical care, and covering immediate expenses.
The GoFundMe page created by family friends describes the couple as active members of their church and central figures in their children’s lives. The organizer writes that the community is coming together to
