Man Charged With DUI Double Murder To Face Judge Today

CHATSWORTH, CA – A 21-year-old man who allegedly drove drunk and caused a crash in Chatsworth that killed two brothers, then fled the scene on foot, will face a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial today.

Dylan Shane Rutherford, of Simi Valley, was charged with two counts each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run driving resulting in death. Rutherford was arrested shortly after the Oct. 7, 2016 crash at DeSoto Avenue and Chatsworth Street, but was released on $200,000 bail on Oct. 10, according to jail records.

According to police and prosecutors, Rutherford was driving a black Ram 1500 pickup eastbound on Chatsworth Street around 10:30 p.m. Oct. 7 of last year when he struck a 1991 GMC pickup that was being driven north on DeSoto. The GMC overturned and caught fire. Brothers Hector Castro, 44, and Ernesto Castro, 42, died in the GMC.

Police said Rutherford and a female passenger fled the scene on foot. The passenger was detained by police but later released. Rutherford faces up to 19 years in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock