Murder Charge Filed in Fatal Van Collision

A murder charge has been filed against the driver of a van that crashed into another van during a police pursuit in Mission Hills last week, killing a 44-year-old woman and seriously injuring her daughter, authorities said.

Christopher De Huff, 19, of Hollywood, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Municipal Court pending his release from the jail ward at County USC Medical Center earlier in the day, said Deputy District Atty. David Mintz. He is currently being held there on $1-million bail.

De Huff faces one count of second-degree murder, two counts of felony evading a police officer, one count of driving a stolen vehicle, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of driving without a license, Mintz said. If convicted of these charges, De Huff faces a prison term of 15 years to life.

Linda Wageman, 44, of Granada Hills, was killed Oct. 14 and her daughter Rebecca, 25, was seriously injured when their van, authorities say, was struck broadside by De Huff’s vehicle, which was being chased by police in Mission Hills. Two Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officers suffered burns trying to pull the women from the van, which caught fire.

De Huff and his passenger, Daniel John Nardine, 19, of Pasadena, were also hurt.

De Huff suffered head injuries, underwent surgery at Northridge Hospital Medical Center and was later moved to County USC Medical Center’s jail ward.

Charges have not been filed against Nardine. He was released Friday, Mintz said.

Los Angeles police officials said the chase began about 9:45 p.m. in Pacoima and ended about three minutes later at the intersection of Lassen Street and Sepulveda Boulevard.

The American Civil Liberties Union called on the LAPD to suspend its existing pursuit policy, citing a report last year criticizing the department for “alarmingly high rates of officer, suspect and bystander injuries.”