Suspected driver in crash that killed 3 in Monterey Park is charged with manslaughter

A driver whose three passengers died after police say their speeding SUV hit a tree, a wall and three cars in Monterey Park was charged this week with killing them while driving drunk.

One victim was ejected and landed on a roof. The driver, 28-year-old Desiree Helen Perez of Monterey Park, and her 7-year-old daughter, had minor injuries, authorities said.

In addition to three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, the District Attorney’s Office on Monday, July 1, charged Perez with one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, said Venusse Dunn, a spokeswoman for the DA’s Office.

Perez pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday in Alhambra Superior Court, Dunn said.

According to the medical examiner’s office, the three who died were: Alexander Cota Jr, 34, of Alhambra; Denise Guereca, 54, of Monterey Park; and Randy Guereca, 33, of Monterey Park.

Perez was driving a Jeep Cherokee westbound on Graves Avenue in the early morning hours of June 28.

As of Wednesday, Perez was being held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood in lieu of $500,000 bail.