What Happened
Shalia Deciderio, 21, of Rancho Santa Margarita was killed Thursday night when the Nissan Infiniti she was riding in left the road and slammed into a tree near Los Alisos Boulevard and Mustang Run in Mission Viejo, Orange County. The crash was reported at 9:41 p.m. Deciderio was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the New York Post.
The car’s driver, 20-year-old Jaime Rojas of Mission Viejo, survived. He was in critical but stable condition following the crash.
Investigators say the Infiniti Rojas was driving was street racing a second Nissan Infiniti at the time of the crash. That second car was driven by Aiden Deciderio, 20, Shalia’s younger brother. Aiden stayed at the scene after the crash, according to the New York Post.
Aiden Deciderio was arrested and booked Friday morning. Rojas is expected to be booked on the same potential charges after his release from the hospital. Both men face potential charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in Shalia’s death, per KTLA.
Shalia Deciderio leaves behind a young child. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to cover her funeral expenses and to help support the child. “Shalia was a loving, caring, and outgoing person whose beautiful spirit touched everyone fortunate enough to know her,” the fundraiser states. “Shalia also leaves behind a precious young child, who is now facing life without a parent.” As of Saturday morning, the campaign had raised more than $4,700 of its $13,000 goal.
A makeshift memorial with flowers appeared at the crash site near Los Alisos Boulevard and Mustang Run.
Location & Road Context
The crash happened at the intersection of Los Alisos Boulevard and Mustang Run in Mission Viejo, a residential city in southern Orange County. The vehicle left the roadway at that junction before striking a tree. Mission Viejo is approximately 60 miles south of Los Angeles.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Aiden Deciderio, 20, was arrested and booked Friday morning following his sister’s death. He faces potential charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence under California law. Jaime Rojas, 20, of Mission Viejo faces the same potential charge and is expected to be booked once he is discharged from the hospital, according to KTLA as reported by the New York Post. No arraignment date had been announced as of Saturday morning.
Broader Impact
Under California Penal Code § 192(c), vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence carries a sentence of up to six years in state prison. Both Aiden Deciderio and Jaime Rojas face that charge in connection with Shalia Deciderio’s death.