A split-second decision to run a red light at 12:09 a.m. on a Sunday morning erased not one life but two, leaving a family shattered and a 24-year-old man facing charges that could redefine his existence.
Story Snapshot
- A 24-year-old pregnant woman died instantly as a passenger when a grey Lexus ran a red light and T-boned her Toyota Camry near the 91 Freeway on-ramp in Anaheim early Sunday morning.
- Daniel Ramos, 24, was arrested at the scene for felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter, with additional charges possible due to the victim’s pregnancy under California’s fetal homicide laws.
- Four others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, including the Toyota driver and two passengers from the Lexus driven by Ramos.
- Anaheim Police continue investigating whether enhanced charges will be filed, potentially invoking Penal Code 187 for the death of an unborn child.
The Collision That Changed Everything
Anaheim Boulevard near the 91 Freeway on-ramp transforms into a high-stakes gauntlet after midnight. Vehicles accelerate toward freeway access while late-night drivers navigate intersections where visibility narrows and judgment blurs. At 12:09 a.m. Sunday, Daniel Ramos barreled through a red light in his grey Lexus, slamming into a white Toyota Camry with four occupants. The pregnant woman sitting in the front passenger seat absorbed the brunt of the impact. She died at the scene, her unborn child lost with her.
Ramos remained at the crash site long enough for Anaheim Police to conduct field sobriety evaluations. Video footage captured officers administering tests before placing him in handcuffs. His two passengers were transported to local hospitals alongside the Toyota’s driver, all with injuries serious enough to warrant emergency care but not life-threatening. The victim, whose identity has not been released, never stood a chance.
California’s Legal Framework for Fetal Victims
California Penal Code 187 defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being or a fetus, with exceptions carved out for abortion and medical necessity. This statute transforms DUI fatalities involving pregnant women into dual homicide cases, stacking additional charges that carry separate sentences. Anaheim Police acknowledged this reality in their official statement: “Due to the victim being pregnant, additional charges may be considered pending the outcome of the investigation.” Prosecutors now face the question of whether to pursue those enhanced penalties.
The decision hinges on forensic evidence establishing the fetus’s viability and gestational age at the time of death. District attorneys typically invoke fetal homicide charges when medical examiners confirm development beyond the early stages of pregnancy. Ramos already faces felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter, charges that could send him to state prison for years. Add fetal homicide to the mix, and his sentence multiplies, reflecting society’s recognition that this crash extinguished two lives, not one.
The Intersection Where Risks Multiply
Anaheim Boulevard’s proximity to the 91 Freeway on-ramp creates a convergence point where drivers accelerate, merge, and misjudge distances under pressure. Urban traffic density compounds these dangers, especially during late-night hours when impaired drivers miscalculate red lights and overestimate their reaction times. This intersection exemplifies California’s broader struggle with DUI-related fatalities at high-traffic junctions where freeway access meets city streets. The 91 Freeway corridor has long been scrutinized for collision frequency, though no prior incidents at this exact location were detailed in available reports.
Red-light running remains a leading factor in urban DUI crashes, with impaired drivers either failing to perceive signal changes or deliberately gambling on clearing intersections before cross-traffic enters. Ramos’ decision to blow through that red light represents a preventable catastrophe, one that traffic safety advocates argue could be mitigated through stricter enforcement, increased sobriety checkpoints, and enhanced penalties for DUI offenses. The pregnant victim’s death underscores the randomness of these tragedies—she was simply a passenger, trusting others to obey basic traffic laws.
What Comes Next for Ramos and the Victim’s Family
Daniel Ramos sits in custody while the Orange County District Attorney’s office weighs the full scope of charges. His legal team will likely challenge the severity of potential fetal homicide counts, arguing prosecutorial overreach or disputing evidence of the fetus’s viability. Meanwhile, the victim’s family navigates grief compounded by the public nature of her death and the uncertainty surrounding final charges. They lost not only a daughter, sister, or partner but also the future grandchild, niece, or sibling who would never arrive.
Pregnant 24-year-old tragically killed by DUI driver in Anaheim: cops https://t.co/h931XO8iLN pic.twitter.com/TtbVXZsuyW
— New York Post (@nypost) January 26, 2026
This case may ripple beyond Ramos’ sentencing. California legislators periodically revisit DUI penalties, and high-profile fatalities involving pregnant victims often fuel calls for mandatory minimums or automatic fetal homicide charges in vehicular manslaughter cases. Whether this tragedy sparks legislative action remains uncertain, but it reinforces a grim reality: impaired drivers destroy lives without warning, and the victims rarely have a say in their fate. The intersection on Anaheim Boulevard will return to normal traffic flow, but for one family, normal ended at 12:09 a.m. on a Sunday they’ll never forget.
Sources:
Anaheim DUI crash: 24-year-old pregnant woman killed – driver arrested – ABC7
Anaheim DUI crash: Pregnant woman killed, Daniel Ramos arrested – FOX11 LA
