Investigators say the couple’s 25-year-old daughter survived with severe injuries.
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — A 17-year-old driver was being held in juvenile custody after investigators said he caused a late-night head-on crash that killed a married couple and left their adult daughter with severe injuries at a busy Santa Clarita intersection on Feb. 6.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators said the teen was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and manslaughter after deputies ran a breath test at the scene. The victims were identified as Genry Ortiz Torres, 54, and Silvia Lux, 49, a Canyon Country woman known to friends and family as Patty Ortiz. Their daughter, Erin Ortiz, 25, survived but was hospitalized with what relatives described as life-altering injuries and a long recovery.
Deputies and firefighters were called to the intersection of Newhall Ranch Road and Bouquet Canyon Road at about 11:15 p.m. after reports of a violent collision involving multiple vehicles. Investigators said the Ortiz family was driving home from church when a vehicle struck them head-on at high speed, setting off a chain reaction that involved at least three vehicles. Lux was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the county medical examiner. Her husband was transported to a hospital, where he later died, authorities said. The suspect’s name was not released because he is a minor.
On Tuesday, sheriff’s investigators said the teen had a valid California driver’s license and no prior traffic record. He was booked on suspicion of felony DUI and manslaughter and was being held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey as the case moved through juvenile procedures. Investigators did not release a blood-alcohol level, and it was not immediately clear what evidence, beyond the field test and investigators’ observations, would be filed in court records. Authorities also did not say whether drugs were suspected, whether speed was a confirmed factor, or which vehicle crossed into the opposing lane before the impact.
The intersection sits near a stretch of roadway that locals describe as fast-moving at night, where drivers crest hills and merge through wide lanes. By daylight the next morning, the crash scene had become a gathering place for relatives and members of the Ortiz family’s church community, who left flowers and small mementos along the curb. Friends said Genry and Patty Ortiz were fixtures at their church and often volunteered their time. “Every time I saw them, they were smiling and such happy, great people,” family friend Kylie Whetsel said in an interview published by a local news outlet, adding that she was thankful Erin survived.
Family members said Erin Ortiz was recovering in the hospital but remained in significant pain. Her brother, Eder David Ortiz, told local television crews that her wrist was badly injured and that she could not move much because of pain across her body. Another relative, Kaitlyn Ortiz, said Erin was a full-time student and relied on her parents for support, a loss the family said would be felt emotionally and financially at the same time. In a separate interview, David Ortiz said he was working in Colorado when his sister called him after the crash, and he left his trip to return home.
In a fundraiser organized by family and friends, supporters said Erin would need extensive medical care, rehabilitation and ongoing support, and that her brother was facing funeral arrangements while helping her navigate months of treatment. The organizer said the crash instantly changed the lives of two siblings who lost both parents in a matter of hours. The fundraiser described Genry and Patty Ortiz as devoted to their family and faith and said the money would help with medical bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and immediate living expenses as Erin’s recovery continues.
Investigators said the case remained active, with traffic specialists continuing to review evidence from the scene and follow up with witnesses. Officials did not announce a timeline for a completed collision report or whether additional allegations would be sought as the investigation proceeds. Because the suspect is a minor, prosecutors’ decisions, custody conditions, and any early court filings could remain limited in public detail compared with adult DUI cases, and it was not clear when a formal petition would be filed in juvenile court.
For the Ortiz family, the days after the collision have been marked by hospital visits, memorial planning and a steady stream of support from church members and friends. David Ortiz, 27, told a television station that seeing his sister in a neck brace and facing multiple surgeries was difficult to process as he prepared to bury both parents. “As a 27-year-old, you don’t think you’ll be burying both of your parents,” he said, describing the loss as the hardest thing he had ever faced.
Authorities said the suspect remained in custody as investigators worked to finalize findings from the Feb. 6 crash. The next milestone is expected to be the filing of juvenile court documents and the release of additional investigative details, including confirmed factors that led to the head-on impact.
Author note: Last updated February 12, 2026.