Deputies said several people were hurt and taken to hospitals after the collision at a busy intersection.
SANTA CLARITA, CA — A married couple was killed and several other people were injured in a late-night crash at a major Santa Clarita intersection, and a driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said.
Deputies and fire crews responded shortly before midnight Friday to the intersection of Newhall Ranch Road and Bouquet Canyon Road in the Saugus area, where they found multiple injured people and heavy damage to the vehicles involved. One person was pronounced dead at the scene and a second victim died after being taken to a hospital, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The collision remained under investigation Sunday as officials worked to confirm details and notify family members.
Deputies were called to the intersection at about 11:15 p.m. Friday, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. Sgt. Joana Warren said deputies arrived and found several people hurt, with multiple victims transported for medical care. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Warren said, and another victim later died at a hospital after being taken there by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel. Warren said the conditions of other victims were not immediately known.
Sheriff’s officials said the crash happened at the crossroads of Newhall Ranch Road and Bouquet Canyon Road, an area described by authorities as a major intersection that can stay busy late into the evening. The impact shut down the intersection for hours while investigators and tow crews worked in the roadway. Drivers reported detours into nearby neighborhoods as emergency vehicles blocked lanes, and the scene was still being cleared Saturday morning, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and local reports.
Deputy Rafael Fierra said a man’s car crashed into the couple’s vehicle at the intersection, killing the husband and wife. Fierra said the couple’s adult daughter was in the vehicle and survived. He said the daughter and the driver involved were transported for medical care. Fierra said the driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, but he said he did not have information about the ages of the victims or the suspect.
By Sunday morning, Los Angeles County Medical Examiner officials had not officially released the names of the victims, sheriff’s officials said. A verified GoFundMe fundraising page identified the couple as Paty Ortiz and Genry Ortiz, according to Sgt. Ryan Elsee of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. Elsee said the investigation remained active and that the station did not have the suspect’s age available at the time of publication.
Elsee also described the vehicles involved as a white Honda SUV, a white truck and a gray truck that was waiting at a traffic light when the collision happened. Officials did not immediately say which vehicle the suspect was driving, which direction each vehicle was traveling, or whether speed was a factor. They also did not release details about how many people were in each vehicle, which passengers were taken to hospitals, or whether any of the injured remained in critical condition.
Authorities said the cause of the crash was still under investigation, and they asked for patience as deputies gathered evidence and worked to reconstruct what happened. Investigators typically look at skid marks, vehicle damage, traffic-signal timing and video from nearby cameras when available, along with statements from drivers and witnesses. In suspected impaired-driving cases, investigators may also seek chemical test results and review a driver’s actions before and after the crash.
The intersection closure stretched late into the night as emergency crews cleared debris and investigators marked the roadway. Residents in nearby neighborhoods said the sound of sirens and the flashing lights of patrol vehicles continued into the early morning hours. Some drivers returned Saturday to see the remains of scattered car parts and temporary lane controls still in place, as crews worked to reopen the route.
No charges beyond the suspected DUI arrest were announced Sunday, and officials did not say when the case might be presented to prosecutors. Sheriff’s officials said the crash investigation would continue as they awaited additional records, including medical examiner findings, and as they completed interviews with surviving drivers and passengers. Officials also did not say whether the suspect remained hospitalized or in custody, or whether bail had been set.
The deaths added to the steady toll of deadly crashes in the Santa Clarita Valley and across Los Angeles County, where law enforcement agencies regularly respond to collisions tied to impairment, high speeds and late-night driving. Deputies said they would continue to release details as they become available and as families are notified, but they cautioned that early information can change as investigators sort out what happened in the moments leading up to the impact.
As of Sunday, investigators had not released a timeline for a formal report or identified a date for a public briefing. The sheriff’s station said the crash at Newhall Ranch Road and Bouquet Canyon Road remained under investigation, with additional information expected as officials confirm records and complete their review.
Author note: Last updated February 8, 2026.