Young mother of two killed by suspected DUI driver in crash in South Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - A young mother of two was killed in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Hyde Park that sent the vehicles into parked vehicles and a power pole and the driver of one of the vehicles was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Jasmine Gonzalez, 26, had just picked up her friend, Terry Betton, from work and pulled over in the 4900 block of Crenshaw Boulevard at about 12:30 a.m. so he could run into his house and drop off some of his things.

Benton said was only inside for a few seconds when he heard a loud crash. Two women inside a car allegedly ran into the back of Gonzalez's vehicle and then hit a third parked car. The impact crushed Gonzalez's car and trapped her inside. When paramedics arrived, she was unconscious and not breathing.

A witness said investigators were having a hard time figuring out which of the two women was driving the car that killed Gonzalez.

"Once I stepped into the house, we heard a loud bang," Betton recalled. "I came outside and she was the only person not outside the car when the accident occurred. She was just in the car, slumped over."

Officers gave both women in the car that hit Gonzalez field sobriety tests and took in both of them for more questioning. Detectives believe alcohol may have been a factor. The driver is expected to be charged with vehicular manslaughter by gross negligence. The name of the driver who caused the deadly accident will not be released until she is formally booked, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Betton was hoping to plan a future with Gonzalez. He said she was always happy, loved music and lived life to the fullest.

CNS contributed to this report.