Santa Ana teen driver facing manslaughter charge after a passenger was killed during a police pursuit

SANTA ANA, Calif. – An 18-year-old unlicensed driver was charged today with vehicular manslaughter for killing a 15-year-old girl during a high-speed pursuit from Orange into Long Beach when the stolen car he was driving collided with another vehicle after he ran a red light, according to the OCDA.

Izaiah Joseph Miranda, 18, of Santa Ana, was charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, one felony count of hit and run with permanent injury or death, one felony count of evading while driving recklessly causing death, one felony count of child abuse and endangerment and one misdemeanor count of hit and run with property damage. He was also charged with one felony enhancement of fleeing the scene after committing vehicular manslaughter.

Miranda faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and four months in state prison if convicted of all counts.

On March 8, 2024, Orange police officers responded to a call of a stolen vehicle and found three people inside the stolen car, including two teenage residents of Orangewood Children’s Home.

Two of the teenagers complied with police orders to exit the stolen vehicle, including the front passenger who was arrested, but a 15-year-old girl who had been riding in the back of the car suddenly jumped into the front seat. Miranda is accused of speeding away, reaching speeds of more than 120 miles per hour on the 22 Freeway as he drove from Orange into Long Beach in an attempt to outrun the police.

He is accused of running a red light at an intersection in Long Beach when the vehicle was struck by another car, severely injuring his 15-year-old passenger. Miranda is accused of running from the collision, leaving the injured girl in the passenger seat of the stolen car. The girl, later identified as Denisse Pilego Roman, died several days later.

Miranda is accused of leading Orange police on a chase that reached speeds of 90 mph. He is accused of running a red light at an intersection in Long Beach when the vehicle was struck by another car. Miranda fled on foot. The girl suffered major injuries and died several days later.

“A 15-year-old girl is dead because she decided to get back in a stolen vehicle with a driver who tried to outrun the police at speeds topping 120 miles per hour,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “This car thief not only killed a 15-year-old girl, he endangered the lives of the law enforcement officers pursing him and every other driver on the road who had no idea they were in the middle of a high-speed police pursuit.”

A criminal complaint sets forth criminal accusations against a defendant who is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Brian Orue of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.