Accident Results in Multiple Deaths and Injuries

August 29, 2008

***UPDATE:***

On August 29, 2008 at around 9:45 a.m., 15-year-old Andrew Cordova died at Huntington Memorial Hospital as a result of the injuries he sustained after Wednesday night’s traffic collision.  The LA County District Attorney filed four counts of Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence against 19-year-old Rostislav Shnayder.*

Los Angeles: A late night traffic collision claimed three lives and an unborn child and critically injured two others.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, at around 10:35 p.m., the traffic collision occurred at Colorado Boulevard and Highland View Avenue in Eagle Rock. As a result of the collision, the driver, 19-year old Cristyn Nicole Cordova, of Eagle Rock, was killed instantly, as was Tony Marie Cordova, the driver’s 16-year old sister, who was riding in the left rear seat of the Nissan Maxima that Cristyn was driving. Jason Timothy Gomez Hernandez, 19, a family friend, who was seated in the center rear of the Nissan, was ejected from the vehicle and killed instantly. Toni Cordova, 16, was killed from blunt force trauma. Andrew Cordova, 15, who had been seated in the right rear of the vehicle, was also ejected and sustained multiple serious injuries. He is currently listed in critical condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Carlos Alberto Campos, Cristyn’s 19-year old boyfriend, and the father of her unborn child, was riding in the right front seat of the Maxima, and was also ejected from the vehicle. Carlos Campos suffered multiple fractures and is in critical condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Another vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by 19-year old Rostislav Shnayder, of Eagle Rock, was also seen speeding while travelling westbound on Colorado Boulevard, near the Nissan Maxima. A contact occurred between the Nissan and Mitsubishi immediately prior to the fatal collision. Shnayder remained at the scene and attempted to render aid to the occupants of the Nissan.

The investigation of the traffic collision is ongoing. Preliminary witness statements and physical evidence indicate that the Nissan and the Mitsubishi were speeding as they travelled westbound on Colorado Boulevard. Although we believe that excess speed was a primary factor in this collision, there is no evidence that the involved persons or vehicles were engaged in an organized speed competition. There is no indication that Shnayder was impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Shnayder has been arrested and booked for 187 PC (Murder).

Anyone with information is requested to contact Central Traffic Division, Detective Padilla, at 213-972-1825.