Local resident charged in crash that killed 2 goes to court
A Santa Clarita Valley man charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly causing the death of his 7-year-old daughter and a Green Valley man two years ago is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
John Michael Reveles, 52, who was arraigned on the felony counts Nov. 16, 2018, is slated to appear in San Fernando Superior Court for a readiness hearing, which is held to determine whether the lawyers on both sides are ready for an upcoming trial.
Reveles suffered serious injury in the 2017 crash that claimed the life of his daughter, Sophia Bella Cano Reveles, and David John Kelly, 75, of Green Valley, driver of the other car.
John Reveles spent at least a couple of weeks recovering at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.
The fatal crash happened around 11:40 a.m. on April 29, 2018, when a Toyota Tacoma was traveling southbound on the 33000 block of San Francisquito Canyon Road in the northbound lane.
The Toyota truck driver, later identified as Reveles with his daughter as passenger, traveled over the double-yellow line when the truck crashed into the front of a Volkswagen, according to California Highway Patrol officers at the time of the crash.
The injured girl was rushed to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Kelly, the driver of the Volkswagen, died at the scene.
A celebration of Sophia’s life was held May 13, 2017, at Christ Lutheran Church, in Valencia.
Sophia Reveles, daughter of John Reveles and Sandra Cano, born Aug. 25, 2009, was described in an obituary published in The Signal as a brighteyed and spirited girl, who “effortlessly lit up a room with her vibrant smile.”
To her mother, Sophia was her “little firecracker” who kept her on her toes.
Sophia had an explosive, larger-than-life personality, doing everything with passion and fervor, her eulogy reads, noting that she touched as many lives as she could in her brief lifetime.
Her eulogy concluded: “The unexpected loss of this witty 7-year-old has taken her from this life far too soon, but her fierce spirit and unforgettable smile will be with us always. Her family, friends and school will miss her strong personality, clever sense of humor, and the way she shared her love. Sophia’s memory fills the hearts of all who knew her.”