Baldwin Park man gets 73 years 45-year-old was convicted of killing Covina couple, injuring teen in 2019 crash

COURTS

Salvador Gomez was fleeing from police when he crashed into a Nissan Rogue on Oct. 12, 2019, killing Gracie and Edward Contreras (pictured above). Ruby Gonzales — Staff

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By Ruby Gonzales

rugonzales@scng.com

A Baldwin Park man was sentenced Wednesday to 73 years and four months to life in prison for killing a Covina couple and seriously injuring the woman’s son after he crashed into their SUV while fleeing from West Covina police in 2019.

A Pomona Superior Court jury last year convicted 45-year-old Salvador Gomez of two counts of second-degree murder, one count of carjacking and one count of evading a peace officer causing serious bodily injury.

Judge Mike Camacho sentenced Gomez to 60 years to life for the murders of Gracie and Edward Contreras, 10 years for the carjacking, and three years and four months for fleeing from police causing serious bodily injury to Jacob Dominguez, who is the son of Gracie Contreras, said L.A. County Deputy District Attorney Prianca Murthi.

Gomez will serve the sentences consecutively, Murthi said.

“Mr. Gomez did give a statement saying he was sorry and that drugs had ruined his life and the lives of the victims,” she said.

Edward Contreras’ sisters gave victim impact statements, she said, adding Gracie Contreras’ sister attended the sentencing but did not give a statement.

Gomez carjacked a man of his Jeep Patriot at Hilda Solis Park in Baldwin Park the night of Oct. 11, 2019.

When the Patriot was seen the next morning in West Covina, Gomez took off. The pursuit lasted 35 seconds. The speeding Gomez crashed into a Nissan Rogue at Glendora and Cameron avenues.

The Nissan’s driver, 53-year-old Gracie Contreras, her then-13-year-old son and her husband, 55-year-old Edward Contreras, were heading home to Covina.The couple had picked up Dominguez from a friend’s house in West Covina. The teen went to Knott’s Scary Farm earlier.

Edward Contreras died at the scene from blunt force injuries of the head and torso while Gracie Contreras died at a hospital from blunt force injuries to her chest, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Dominguez, whose injuries included a broken leg and a fractured pelvis, was hospitalized for months, police said.

The crash also left Gomez injured. West Covina police arrested him Nov. 16, 2019.