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Family mourns man killed in fiery Palmdale crash

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Daniel (center) was an amazing person who worked hard, according to his cousin, Joseph Morales (right). Daniel Orellana Sr. (left) saw his son's burning vehicle shortly after the collision. (Contributed photo)
Daniel (center) was an amazing person who worked hard, according to his cousin, Joseph Morales (right). Daniel Orellana Sr. (left) saw his son’s burning vehicle shortly after the collision. (Contributed photo)
Daniel was in the ROTC program at Van Nuys High School. (Contributed)
Daniel was in the ROTC program at Van Nuys High School. (Contributed)

PALMDALE – Family members have established an online fundraiser for Daniel Orellana, the man killed Saturday when his car burst into flames after it was rear-ended by an alleged drunk driver.

The money raised will go directly to Daniel’s parents to help with his memorial expenses and to ease their financial burden in this dark time, according to Daniel’s cousin, Joseph Morales, who created the fundraising page.

“[Daniel] was an amazing young man, he worked hard and didn’t drink or smoke,” Joseph Morales said. “He was such a good kid and he had his whole life ahead of him.”

To donate to this effort, visit http://www.gofundme.com/f9zu3g.

Daniel's car burst into flames after it was rear-ended by an alleged drunk driver on Avenue S at Sierra Highway. (LUIS MEZA)
Daniel’s car burst into flames after it was rear-ended by an alleged drunk driver on Avenue S at Sierra Highway. (LUIS MEZA)

Daniel, 21, died inside his burning Mitsubishi Eclipse in the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 27. The car burst into flames after it was rear-ended by a Mitsubishi Lancer at the intersection of Avenue S and Sierra Highway in Palmdale, Sheriff’s officials said.

The Lancer’s driver, 23-year-old Jeffrey Brooks, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, and alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision, Sheriff’s officials said.

Jeffrey Brooks, 23, of Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter. (LUIS MEZA)
Jeffrey Brooks, 23, of Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter. (LUIS MEZA)

Brooks bailed out of jail a day after the fatal crash, and no charges have yet been filed in connection with the incident.

“He [Jeffrey Brooks] should just man up and accept what he did, take responsibility for taking a life and being drunk,” Joseph Morales said.

At the time of the crash, Daniel had been driving home from his security job in Burbank.

“He would get off work at 3 in the morning, and then he would have to drive from [Burbank] all the way to Palmdale,” Joseph Morales said. Daniel’s father was worried when his son didn’t make it home or call, so he went out looking for his son and saw the burning car, Joseph Morales said, adding that the collision scene was “right down the street” from Daniel’s home.

“He told the sheriffs, ‘my son drives a car like that,’ but they sent him home; and at 11 [a.m.], they brought Daniel’s wallet and said it was found in the car,” Joseph Morales said. “Where he was sitting didn’t burn as bad so they were able to retrieve the wallet from his back pocket.”

Family members are asking for prayers during this difficult time. (Contributed)
Family members are asking for prayers during this difficult time. (Contributed)

Daniel, who would have been 22 on Nov. 19, was attending Antelope Valley College as well as working. The Van Nuys High School graduate had moved to Palmdale with his parents about two years ago, his cousin said.

Family members have gathered at the Palmdale home to console Daniel’s parents, who are still unable to claim their son’s body, Joseph Morales said.

“They have him down as a John Doe because his body was burned so bad they couldn’t identify him,” Joseph Morales said. “They’re trying to do dental records, and if they can’t identify him with that, they’re going to do DNA…”

“We would like people to just pray for him and his parents; what the family needs right now is prayers.”

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UPDATE: The body of Daniel Orellana has now been identified through dental records, and his family will be able to claim his body at noon on Thursday, Oct. 2.

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Previous related story: 1 dead, 1 arrested after fiery rear-end crash in Palmdale

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

35 comments for "Family mourns man killed in fiery Palmdale crash"

  1. When I moved here to the AV the first thing I noticed is that there is a lot of careless drivers. The speed limit alone I believe are high. Mix in the subtance , speed and hydro and boom….that’s all it takes. True story I almost got hit twice on Sierra Hwy in a 10 mintue period, now im not saying that they were under a substance, but you just never no, look at what happen.Don’t drink and drive people please be responsible!!!!!! Prayer and condolences to the family!

  2. People just realize he hasn;t been convicted yet. Are you forgetting… innocent until proven guilty.

  5. Very sad may he rest in paradise and may the love ones find comfort from prayers and each other

    • Like Eve who coveted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate from the tree and was not forgiven by God, thrown out of the garden, so too Jeffrey Brooks who coveted the bottle of buzz and high will not be forgiven. He has been thrown out of the house of God forever, like Cain who killed Abel Jeffrey Brooks is unforgiving for eternity.

      • You are incorrect, God always forgive those who come to repentance no matter what the sin. This situation is very sad and unfortunate. May God be with both families in this time of grieving

  6. This is just such a sad and horrible situation. My sincere condolences to the family of the victim.

    I hope the drunk driver gets many, many years behind bars to think about what he made a conscious decision to do.

  7. I really only have a few questions for law enforcement…was he driving while intoxicated or not!?…if so…why in the hell is he not being held for charges of vehicular manslaughter and was able to post bail the next morning!? This is law enforcements’ strong stance on drinking and driving…NOT!…I know too well how this is all played out in the courts the only difference is I was lucky to have my loved one come back home alive! How many more lives have to be lost to selfish people who drink and drive!?…For the family of Daniel Orellana I wish you my sincerest condolences at this most difficult time.

  8. Omg I haven’t been able to sleep sense that night I was the one who recorded the video when it just had happen, the guy who crash him was almost tumbling out of his car when he got out because he was drunk I have this on video…

  10. GOD I ASK THAT YOU CAMP AROUND THIS FAMILY IN THIS SAD TIME IN THEIR LIVES.IN JESUS NAME AMEN.MY HEART GOES OUT TO THIS ENTIRE FAMILY GOD BLESS YOU ALL..

  11. There is no hell
    There is no purgatory
    There is only God’s house
    For those who try to obey
    The commandments of God
    They will dwell in the house of God
    Forever.
    And for the wicked like Jeffrey Brooks
    There will be no eternal punishment
    For God is not evil as man is
    And as man desires
    But for Jeffrey Brooks
    In this life there will be struggle
    Exertion, strain, toil and no peace of mind
    For this is God’s punishment for his wicked behavior
    And in the life to come, there will be no life to come for Jeffrey Brooks
    His name will be blotted out and the memory of him
    Will be forgotten for eternity.
    But for Daniel Orellana it sounds like he was a man of God
    Then today, at this hour, at this moment at this very second
    He is dwelling in the house God and surely goodness and mercy
    Will follow him all of his days

    • “And in the life to come, there will be no life to come for Jeffrey Brooks
      His name will be blotted out and the memory of him
      Will be forgotten for eternity.”
      Look i know this is a tragedy, but God also has forgiveness, up until everyone’s last breath. He can still repent. As for Daniel, may he rest in peace in Gods company.

      • There is no forgiveness for this kind of behavior. Go back and read the Hebrew Scriptures. God, the true God of the Hebrews, does not forgive this kind of behavior. The NT came thousands of years after diluted, tampered with and corrupt with man’s ideas in order to sooth his own fears, guilty behavior and disobedience to God; this is where you read about forgiveness until your last breath. This is a lie. Do not worry, however, there is no hell. See for yourself, the Hebrew Scriptures (“old testament”).

  12. My prayers are with this family. It hurt me to see this kind of tragedy especially for an innocence victim like this young man and his family. This would of never happen if not for the selfish act of Jeff Brooks. There are way to many Jeff Brooks driving around the Valley. If you see it REPORT IT using 911 & get the Jeff Brooks off the road before another person is killed or hurt. Calling 911 is everyone responsible the next victim could be YOU.

    • Wrong place at the wrong time! An what does god have to do with this! Blame the jack ass who caused it!

          • No Meds, just the Hebrew Scriptures (“old testament”) facts, history, logic and a brain to think with and reason with in order that I may rid myself of superstations, mythology and fairy tales, in order that I may understand God and be obedient to God and not cause such pain, anguish, sadness, tragedy, suffering, grief, misery and desolation as that caused by Jeffrey Brooks. Like Eve who coveted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate from the tree and was not forgiven by God, thrown out of the garden, so to Jeffrey Brooks who coveted the bottle of buzz and high will not be forgiven. He has been thrown out of the house of God forever, like Cain who killed Abel Jeffrey Brooks is unforgiving for eternity.

    • With your name the comment is sort of funny. Only sort of, in a demeaning towards self kind of way.

      • Dreaming of a time when there will be no drunk drivers on the road. Dreaming of a time when all mankind will see that the only true God is the God of Israel that only He can bring peace on earth that his laws are perfect for he created us in the image of Elohim he created us. When a man learns that there is no forgiveness for willful drinking and driving that leads to the killing of an innocent human being only then will he fear to drink and drive God does not forgive willful, deliberate, determined, intentional conscious malicious defiant acts of lawlessness such as drinking and driving such was and is the nature of Jeffrey Brooks for he is a stubborn, maleficient unruly difficult sinful man and enemy of God. He has no place in the house of God and his name will be blotted out and there will be no after life for him and his name will be forgotten for eternity.

        • As soon as ‘self driving’ cars arrive in force then the government can require/force them to be purchased by known drunk drivers.

  14. My condolences go out to Daniels parents I actually have known the family, since Daniel was a toddler and the thought of a parent losing a child is so unbareable My prays go out to Daniel’s Mom and Dad,

  15. Wow Im sorry for your loss its a big problem out here it needs to be dealt with people are losing their lives cuz of idiots

  18. Mr. Jeffrey Brooks i hope you rot in hell for what you have done. Another one of our community children gone due to your selfish act. Thats rite…. YOUR A SCUM BAG JEFF!