Claudia Lopez Arrested in Two DUI Hit-and-Run Crashes in Los Angeles

Long Beach Police Detective Arrested in Separate DUI Hit-and-Run Crashes Causing Two Injuries

 
LOS ANGELES, CA (January 20, 2019) – A Long Beach police detective was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and hit-and-run after causing a pair of crashes in the Los Angeles area.
 
Claudia Lopez, a 43-year-old Pico Rivera resident, was off-duty at the time of the crashes, which happened 15 minutes apart on the afternoon of January 20. She is a financial crimes detective at the Long Beach Police Department.
 
The first crash happened on surface streets in Marina del Rey near Fiji Way and Admiralty Way. Lopez was driving a 2018 Audi when she rear-ended a bicyclist, leaving the 54-year-old man injured, according to the California Highway Patrol.
 
After fleeing that crash, she caused a three-car wreck on 405 Freeway near La Tijera Boulevard. She reportedly swerved while on the freeway and hit the back of a Honda Accord, causing the car to crash another vehicle.
 
The 55-year-old woman driving the Accord suffered major injuries and was hospitalized in an unknown condition, CHP officials said.
 
Officers took Lopez into custody after that. She was released the next day on $100,000 bail, jail records show.
 
Investigators believe alcohol or drugs played a role in both crashes.
 
The CHP notified the department about what happened the day of her arrest. The department reassigned Lopez to administrative duties and launched an internal investigation.
 
Getting a DUI is not an easy time emotionally or physically. It is important to make the personal choice not to drink and drive, but it’s also important to look out for others who may be driving while intoxicated and to persuade those who have been drinking not to get behind the wheel. Your small choices can make a big difference in road safety.

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