Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón will announce criminal charges Monday in the slaying of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, who was killed in May by men suspected of trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car.
Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi will also be on hand at the press conference scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Hall of Justice downtown, according to a news release from the L.A. County district attorney’s office issued Sunday.
Four men were arrested in connection to the killing, LAPD announced last week. Law enforcement sources told The Times the investigation had focused on Florencia 13 gang members tied to catalytic converter thefts in the region.
After reviewing videos and interviewing witnesses, LAPD homicide detectives identified three men, one with distinctive facial tattoos, who they say jacked up Wactor’s car on Hope Street near Pico Boulevard in order to steal its catalytic converter on the morning of May 25. Wactor was shot when he confronted the men.
Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez and Sergio Estrada were booked on suspicion of murder Thursday and held in lieu of $2-million bail, according to L.A. County Sheriff’s Department records. An additional person, Frank Olano, 22, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to murder.
Wactor had just finished a late night bartending shift at the nearby Level 8 bar about 3:20 a.m when he and co-worker Anita Joy were walking to his car and interrupted the thieves.
Wactor first thought his car was being towed, Joy said. After realizing that wasn’t the case, he asked the men to leave, showing his open hands to indicate he wasn’t a threat. Nevertheless, he was shot at close range, Joy said. A security guard from the bar said he found Joy and the mortally wounded Wactor and called 911.
After the shooting, the suspects fled north on Hope Street in a stolen getaway car described as a 2018 black four-door Infiniti Q50 with a tan interior, police said.
Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, including rhodium, palladium and platinum. They can sell for hundreds of dollars to auto parts suppliers or scrapyards, where they can be melted down and the valuable metals extracted.
Thefts of catalytic converters skyrocketed in California during the COVID-19 pandemic. That prompted new state laws that make it illegal for recyclers to buy the parts from anyone other than the vehicle’s legal owner or a licensed dealer. Penalties were increased for buyers who fail to certify that a catalytic converter wasn’t stolen.
Los Angeles police are serving search warrants, seeking to make arrests in the slaying of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, law enforcement sources said Thursday.
A statement of probable cause used to obtain the warrants named Robert Barceleau, Sergio Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez as suspects. The three were targeted after police said their fingerprints matched those lifted from a floor jack they used while trying to steal Wactor’s catalytic converter.
After reviewing videos and interviewing witnesses, homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department identified three men, one with distinctive facial tattoos, who they say jacked Wactor’s car on Hope Street near Pico Boulevard to steal its catalytic converter before shooting and killing him May 25.
A statement of probable cause used to obtain the warrants named Robert Barceleau, Sergio Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez as suspects. The three were targeted after police said their fingerprints matched those lifted from a floor jack they used while trying to steal Wactor’s catalytic converter.
Wactor had finished a shift at the nearby Level 8 bar about 3:20 a.m. when he and co-worker Anita Joy were walking to his car and interrupted the thieves.
Wactor first thought his car was being towed, Joy said. After realizing that wasn’t the case, he asked the men to leave, showing his open hands to indicate he wasn’t a threat. Nevertheless, he was shot at close range, Joy said. A security guard from the bar said he found Joy and the mortally wounded Wactor and called 911.
Joy asked Wactor whether he was OK, and he responded, “Nope. I’ve been shot,” according to the statement of probable cause.
After the shooting, the suspects fled north on Hope Street in a stolen getaway car described as a 2018 black four-door Infiniti Q50 with a tan interior, police said.
Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, including rhodium, palladium and platinum. They can sell for hundreds of dollars to auto parts suppliers or scrapyards, where they can be melted down and the valuable metals extracted.
Thefts of catalytic converters skyrocketed in California during the COVID-19 pandemic. That prompted new state laws that make it illegal for recyclers to buy the parts from anyone other than the vehicle’s legal owner or a licensed dealer. Penalties were increased for buyers who fail to certify that a catalytic converter wasn’t stolen.
Open carry is legal in North Carolina without a permit if you are at least 18 years old and have no felony convictions, according to Raleigh-based Manning Law Firm.
File photo by DAVID PULLIAM
The Kansas City Star
Concealed carry permits allow North Carolina residents to transport firearms on their person and in their vehicles. But what if you don’t have a permit?
Open carry is legal in North Carolina without a permit if you are at least 18 years old and have no felony convictions, according to Raleigh-based Manning Law Firm.
State law also includes rules on driving with a firearm in your vehicle without a permit. Here’s what to know about open carry while traveling in North Carolina.
Can you open carry in your vehicle in NC?
North Carolina law allows gun owners without concealed carry permits to transport firearms in their vehicles, but the weapons must be displayed openly, visible and readily seen, according to Charlotte-based law firm Randall & Stump.
However, state law allows those without concealed carry permits to store weapons in the trunk, since they wouldn’t be within reach of anyone in the vehicle.
“If you’re driving a vehicle with access to the trunk area, like an SUV or van, your weapon must be securely locked away in a container,” the firm says.
What is the penalty for concealing a gun inside a vehicle in NC?
First-time offenders convicted of illegally concealing a weapon without a permit could be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor, which comes with up to 60 days in jail and a fine, according to Randall & Stump.
Any subsequent offense could result in a felony conviction, punishable by up to 39 months in prison depending on criminal history, the firm says.
Can you fly with a gun in NC?
People over the age of 18 can fly with firearms and ammunition, but they must be unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container. They can only be transported in checked baggage, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Gun owners must also declare their firearms or ammunition when checking their bags at the ticket counter, the TSA says.
What is the penalty for carrying a loaded gun through TSA?
If TSA finds you have a loaded gun in the airport, “you will be charged with a crime and face civil fines,” says law firm Randall & Stump.
“Also, if you have an unloaded gun that is not stored and transported properly, you will face charges and civil fines.”
Fines range from a few hundred dollars for BB guns and flare pistols to nearly $10,000 for any type of loaded firearm (or unloaded with accessible ammunition).
You could also be fined between $650 and $2,610 for firearms that are not stored properly inside your luggage.
Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team
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Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
Orange County prosecutors charged a third-strike offender and two other men with murder on accusations of running a car over a 68-year-old New Zealand woman and dragging her nearly 65 feet during a robbery at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island.
Prosecutors charged third-striker Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Los Angeles; Malachi Edward Darnell, 18, also of Los Angeles; and Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster with special-circumstances murder. They could be sentenced to death if they are convicted of killing Patricia McKay in the commission of a robbery, with a felony enhancement of causing the death of a person over the age of 65. The trio were captured after leading police on a high-speed chase into L.A. County.
The incidents Tuesday raised questions about why McCrary hadn’t served prison time for his previous felony convictions.
California has had a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty since 2019 and has not executed anyone since 2006.
McCrary also faces charges of felony attempted second-degree robbery and evading while driving recklessly. He was previously convicted of the felonies of residential burglary in 2018, criminal threats in 2020, and robbery in 2023, all in L.A. County. Records show he was also convicted of being a narcotics addict in possession of a firearm in 2023.
In addition to the murder charge, Darnell faces charges of second-degree attempted robbery, attempted murder, and personal use of a firearm, as well as a felony enhancement of personal discharge of a firearm.
Cunningham is also charged with attempted second-degree robbery in addition to murder.
Patricia McKay and husband Douglas McKay, a well-known Auckland businessman and leader, were waiting for a ride after shopping at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island on Tuesday when a white Toyota Camry pulled up outside the mall next to the couple, and two men in masks jumped out. One of the men put a gun to Douglas McKay’s head and demanded his watch as they forced him to the ground, according to prosecutors.
Cunningham is accused of tossing Patricia McKay to the ground as she held several shopping bags, and then allegedly dragged her into the street in front of the Camry while grabbing the bags.
Douglas McKay jumped in front of the vehicle in an effort to stop it from running over his wife, but McCrary allegedly drove it forward, pushing him out of the way and running over the woman, then dragging her body 65 feet under the car.
As Cunningham ran after the getaway car, another man seeking to intervene gave chase. Darnell, who by then was back inside the car, is accused of firing three shots at the Good Samaritan.
After the incident, police pursued the Camry as it sped north, reaching speeds of up to 110 mph. A television news helicopter captured video of the car speeding on the left shoulder of the 105 Freeway and at one point grazing the concrete median.
Cunningham was arrested after he bailed out of the vehicle in the city of Cypress. McCray and Darnell were arrested later in South Gate. All three defendants were being held without bail Friday.
“Our entire community extends its deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Patricia McKay and to the entire country of New Zealand as we mourn her senseless death in the commission of a crime that should have never happened,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a statement announcing the charges. “Lawlessness and violence will not be tolerated in our society.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Patricia McKay’s death as “an absolute tragedy,” and extended condolences to family members, whom he knows personally. Douglas McKay is a prominent energy and business executive who served for several years as chair of the Bank of New Zealand and three years as the first chief executive of the Aukland Council created in 2010 for the region’s “supercity.”
In a statement, the McKay family said: “No words can express our sadness as we try to come to terms with the loss of our mother, wife, and friend Patricia. We ask for privacy at this time as we work through this as a family.”
In 2023, McCrary pleaded no contest to charges of robbery and being a narcotics addict in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to two years of probation with three years in state prison suspended.
Asked to explain the lack of prison time for McCrary, L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascón said in a statement: “The case against [him] had significant problems with proof. As a result of these issues, the management team at the Airport Court authorized a plea offer that allowed Mr. [McCrary] to be placed on probation with a suspended state prison sentence.”
Still, Gascón’s office called the latest crimes that McCrary is accused of “reprehensible.”
In announcing this week’s charges, Spitzer, the Orange County prosecutor, put some of the blame on Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats.
“Our shopping centers and malls have become hunting grounds for criminals who are stalking innocent shoppers to rob them blind,” he said in a statement, “because our Governor and our Legislature refuse to hold anyone accountable for their actions.”
A tranquil summer afternoon at the upscale Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach disintegrated into violence Tuesday, with a woman killed after a botched robbery attempt.
Two men accosted the 69-year-old woman and her husband close to the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the mall, authorities said. Shots were fired, but police said no one was struck by bullets.
The couple had been walking at Fashion Island when they were approached by the two men, who attempted to rob them, according to Sgt. Steven Oberon of the Newport Beach Police Department.
A struggle ensued, and the woman was dragged into a parking lot and subsequently run over by the suspects’ white Toyota Camry. Oberon said the woman’s husband was believed to be uninjured.
The victims were not immediately identified.
Police pursued the suspects after the incident, a chase that took them into Los Angeles County. Authorities reported that the Camry reached speeds of up to 110 mph as it sped north. A television news helicopter captured video of the car speeding into the left shoulder of the 105 Freeway and at one point grazing the concrete center median.
During the pursuit, the getaway driver allegedly let at least one accomplice out before he and another man sped on. The pair eventually jumped out of the car in South Gate, fleeing on foot around Harding and Hoover avenues, according to police and video of the chase shown on multiple local TV news stations.
News footage showed one bare-chested man being taken into custody minutes after he jumped from the driver’s side of the car. Eventually, three suspects were taken into custody.
The shooting occurred just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at what is known as a usually peaceful shopping center, which sits on a bluff above the ocean in the wealthy coastal community.
The Newport Beach Fire Department said it found a person dead in the parking lot adjacent to the bookstore.
Authorities notified nearby residents around 4 p.m. to avoid the shopping plaza as they investigated the incident. Police were seen on site guiding the public to safety, and helicopters were flying overhead.
A woman who was shopping in the area on Tuesday described the situation as a “hullabaloo.” She said she was from Los Angeles and was thankful that police responded quickly. She declined to give her name.
A young man who asked not to be identified said he was at Cucina enoteca in Fashion Island when the incident occurred.
“About 20 people were running and screaming, ‘Someone’s shooting!’ They locked us in the restaurant,” he said.
“This doesn’t happen in Newport Beach,” Mayor Will O’Neill told KCAL-9 News. “Fashion Island is an incredibly safe place. This is a tragedy, and I’m furious.”
City News Service contributed to this report. Winton and Rainey are Times staff writers. Nguyen and Hoffman are staff writers for the Daily Pilot, a sister publication of The Times.
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Richard Winton, James Rainey, Lilly Nguyen, Susan Hoffman
While the main function of electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) cars is to provide an efficient way to travel on the road, they each have unique features that make them different.
Electric vehicles are powered by a rechargeable battery pack, which means they don’t need petrol. They also have fewer moving parts compared to petrol vehicles, making them easier to maintain. This fundamental difference means that when you’re buying an EV for the first time, you can’t treat the experience like you’re buying an ICE vehicle.
Here’s a quick guide to the key things you need to consider when buying an electric vehicle.
Get to know the best features of an EV
EVs often come equipped with a range of innovative features that enhance their performance, convenience, and overall driving experience. Understanding these features can help you get a good idea of why more people are switching to EVs, and how you can maximise the vehicle’s capabilities.
For instance, many electric vehicles have regenerative braking technology, which harnesses kinetic energy during deceleration and braking to recharge the vehicle’s battery. By converting kinetic energy into electrical energy, regenerative braking helps extend the vehicle’s range and improve energy efficiency.
Knowing about the key features before buying an EV gives potential owners an idea of what to look for before finalising their purchase.
Compare different models
As someone who’s diving into the world of EVs for the first time, it’s essential to start by comparing different models available on the market. With an increasing number of auto companies introducing various options, comparing different models allows you to find the one that best matches your preferences, budget, and lifestyle.
Take your time to research and compare various models, focusing on factors such as range, battery capacity, charging time, and available features. Online resources, reviews, and forums dedicated to EVs can be really useful here, allowing you to gather information and make an informed decision.
Get acquainted with the different charging levels and options
Understanding how the different EV charging options work ensures that you’re able to charge your vehicle in a safe and efficient manner. You need to acquaint yourself with the different charging levels to make it easier to plan your charging times and stops effectively.
There are three types of EV charging levels:
Level 1 chargers use a standard household outlet and provide the slowest charging speeds.
Level 2 chargers require a dedicated charging station and offer faster charging speeds.
Level 3 chargers (a.k.a. DC fast chargers) provide the fastest charging speeds and are capable of charging EVs in as little as 20 minutes.
You can charge your EV with an EV home charging unit or at a public EV charging station. Home charging is typically the most convenient and cost-effective way to keep your electric vehicle powered up. It allows you to recharge your car overnight while you sleep, ensuring that you start each day with a full battery.
Home EV chargers come in various sizes, styles, and features to suit the unique needs of EV drivers. The Zappi EV charger installation unit, for instance, is a smart charger that can be controlled using a user-friendly mobile application. It also has solar EV charging capabilities, making it a perfect device for drivers who want to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Public EV charging, on the other hand, is perfect for long journeys or when you’re away from home. With public charging stations often located in car parks and along major travel routes, they’re more accessible compared to home EV charging units when you’re out on the road.
Familiarise yourself with charging etiquette
Familiarising yourself with charging etiquette ensures a positive experience for yourself and other EV owners. Charging etiquette involves following common courtesy guidelines when using public charging stations to maintain a smooth and efficient charging process for everyone.
When using public charging stations, for instance, be considerate of other EV owners who may be waiting to charge their vehicles. Never leave your vehicle parked at a charging station for longer than necessary once your EV is fully charged.
You should also park your vehicle in a way that allows other EV owners to access adjacent charging stations (if available). Avoid parking in designated EV charging spots unless you are actively charging your vehicle, as these spots are reserved for EV charging purposes only.
Additionally, respect any rules or regulations posted at charging stations. Typical guidelines touch upon time limits for parking and charging, fees for extended parking beyond the charging session, and any restrictions on overnight parking. Adhering to these rules helps maintain order and fairness for all EV owners.
Understand EV tax benefits
Governments worldwide are aiming to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and transition towards sustainable transportation solutions. Thus, to help them reach their goal, they offer a range of benefits to encourage consumers to switch to EVs. They usually provide financial incentives to help offset the higher initial cost of electric vehicles compared to traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
Some jurisdictions even offer incentives for installing home charging stations or purchasing electric vehicle charging equipment.
Purchasing your first EV can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re more familiar with the ins and outs of ICE cars. However, with the help of these tips, buying an EV for the first time can be both an exciting and rewarding experience.
One man is in custody following a fatal stabbing on USC’s Greek Row after a car break-in, Los Angeles police said.
About 8:15 p.m. Monday, firefighters were called to the 700 block of West 28th Street in response to a stabbing, said LAPD officer Norma Eisenman.
The victim, described as a homeless man in his 30s, was breaking into a vehicle when he was confronted by a man in his 20s who pulled out a knife and “stabbed the victim numerous times,” Eisenman said.
Paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The man who stabbed him remained at the scene and was taken into custody, Eisenman said. It was not immediately clear if the man taken into custody was a USC student.
A mountain lion was found dead Saturday morning on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, not far from a wildlife crossing being built to reduce the number of cougar fatalities.
The puma’s body was discovered about 5 a.m. in the far right lane of the freeway near Liberty Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Troopers moved the cougar to the shoulder of the highway and enlisted the help of California Fish and Wildlife, which confirmed Saturday morning that it collected the mountain lion’s body for gathering DNA.
The cougar, which was not wearing a monitoring collar, was killed near the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a $92-million passageway that extends over the busy 10-lane freeway, said Beth Pratt, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation. It was likely hit by a car; she said there was fresh blood on the freeway. She said not much else is yet known about the mountain lion, including its age or sex.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is under construction in Agoura Hills on June 15, 2024, the same day that another mountain lion was struck by a car less than half a mile from the crossing on the Southbound side of the 101 freeway above Liberty Canyon Road.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
“Obviously we have a solution coming, but it didn’t come soon enough for this cat,” Pratt said. “This is just another harsh reminder that this is the right place [for the crossing].”
Construction of the wildlife passage began in 2022, and it is set to be completed in 2026. It is considered the largest wildlife crossing in the world, Pratt said, in a much-needed area where mountain lions are known to attempt to cross.
Already, there are signs that other animals are using the crossing, and by the end of the year, officials hope to begin adding soil and plants to the crossing so that it blends into the environment and creates a safe space for the animals, Pratt said.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is under construction in Agoura Hills on June 15, 2024. Another mountain lion was struck by a car less than half a mile from the crossing on the Southbound side of the 101 freeway above Liberty Canyon Road.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
In January, Uno, a female mountain lion often seen patrolling the mountains in Orange County, was killed after being struck by a vehicle on a road near the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. The cougar, identified as F312, had been tagged by researchers in 2021 when she was about 2 years old.
In January 2023, mountain lion P-81 was killed on Pacific Coast Highway, probably struck by a car, the National Park Service announced. The 4-year-old male cougar’s remains were collected on PCH near Las Posas Road in Ventura County.
In July 2022, mountain lion P-89, a 2-year-old male, was fatally struck by a car on the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills. That death came about a month after a 5-year-old female mountain lion had been killed by a car in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Groundbreaking on new pedestrian safety improvements at West Colfax Avenue and Winona Court. June 6, 2024.
Rebecca Tauber/Denverite
West Colfax is getting a slew of transportation safety improvements as part of a $15.5 million infrastructure project after years of community organizing.
The city broke ground on the project Thursday and is expected to finish in the summer of 2025.
The project will add medians and signal crosswalks for pedestrians at intersections along Colfax Avenue between Irving Street and Sheridan Boulevard. The medians will prevent left-hand turns at non-signal intersections, adding another level of pedestrian safety.
The corridor will also get sidewalk build-outs for RTD buses, making it easier for buses to pick up passengers more quickly.
West Colfax Avenue at Irving Street, July 12, 2023.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
The plan also includes greenery across the new medians along Colfax Avenue to combat heat islands and improve West Colfax’s tree canopy.
The greenery almost didn’t happen after inflation raised the cost of the project. At first, the landscaping was cut, but a mix of city and bond funding brought it back.
“It’s on Colfax where people from all different backgrounds come together to go to school or the library, to drink a toast at a dive bar, to eat tacos or barbecue, or to hop on the bus to get wherever they need to go that day,” said Jill Locantore, executive director of Denver Streets Partnership, a group that advocates for pedestrian mobility in the city. “Colfax carries the lifeblood of our community, and too often, Colfax has broken our hearts, because it is not designed to be safe for the people whose lives depend on it.”
The pedestrian improvements are a long time coming for West Colfax residents.
Nearly a decade ago, residents came together to imagine what a more pedestrian-friendly throughway might look like.
“I’ve lived here for more than 30 years, this is the part of town that I’ve grown up in, that my parents and my grandparents raised their families in, and we can testify to the incredible impacts of traffic deaths along Colfax, along Federal,” said City Council President Jamie Torres, who represents the area. “That can only be improved because we build a different street, because we build a different environment, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.”
Torres specifically mentioned the benefit to kids who have to cross West Colfax Avenue to get to school, members of West Colfax’s Jewish community who cross to get to synagogue and pedestrians trying to reach the many local businesses that line Colfax Avenue.
West Colfax Avenue at Irving Street, July 12, 2023.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Initial upgrades began a few years ago, when the city altered traffic light timing and reduced speeds in an effort to make the corridor safer in 2020. Amy Ford, executive director of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said that those changes decreased fatalities by 71 percent and serious injuries by 50 percent along the corridor.
“What you’ve seen us do is change and evolve and continue to grow about how we think about a complete street, how we create safety and elements for everyone as they enjoy the street, as they enjoy the community that it binds together and the businesses that long run alongside it,” Ford said.
Now, more improvements are coming to fruition thanks to funding from the voter-approved Elevate Denver Bond, which funds infrastructure projects across the city. Another portion of the funding is coming from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
“This all together is going to be a major win for the west side of the city, major improvement of safety, major improvement on accessibility and major permanent bus access and transit,” Mayor Mike Johnston said.
Making the notorious car corridor more pedestrian-friendly
City Council rezoned a number of properties on the east side of Colfax Avenue to promote pedestrian-facing businesses. That’s in anticipation of the Bus Rapid Transit project, which will bring big upgrades to RTD’s bus service on that side of Colfax Avenue.
But Locantore said there is still much more to be done to make Denver a safe city for pedestrians.
West Colfax Avenue at Irving Street, July 12, 2023.Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
She hopes similar infrastructure upgrades will come to Denver’s other fast, busy and dangerous streets, including Federal Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard, Alameda Avenue and University Boulevard.
She said those streets in particular would benefit from upgrades, because they are streets that “feel like a highway,” with few crosswalks but a lot of local businesses frequented by pedestrians.
“This project is proof that if a community can imagine a street that prioritizes people over cars, the city can make that happen,” Locantore said. “I hope this project becomes inspiration for transformations of other streets throughout the city, and that we learn from this process so that we can streamline it and we don’t have to wait 10 years for the next transformation to happen.”
An 18-year-old reportedly sped away from a traffic stop and collided with another vehicle on Tuesday.The Florida Highway Patrol says they attempted to stop a car going 85 mph in a 55 mph zone on State Road 82 in Lee County at approximately 12:43 a.m.Troopers say the driver, Alden Roberts, 18, reached speeds of 130 mph-plus to evade the traffic stop on Daniels Parkway and Gateway Boulevard.According to reports, Roberts collided with another vehicle on SR-82 and Sunshine Boulevard, bringing the car to rest.Troopers say two passengers were in the vehicle, and they were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Deputies reportedly arrested Roberts and charged him with fleeing and multiple counts of reckless driving.
An 18-year-old reportedly sped away from a traffic stop and collided with another vehicle on Tuesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol says they attempted to stop a car going 85 mph in a 55 mph zone on State Road 82 in Lee County at approximately 12:43 a.m.
Troopers say the driver, Alden Roberts, 18, reached speeds of 130 mph-plus to evade the traffic stop on Daniels Parkway and Gateway Boulevard.
According to reports, Roberts collided with another vehicle on SR-82 and Sunshine Boulevard, bringing the car to rest.
Troopers say two passengers were in the vehicle, and they were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Deputies reportedly arrested Roberts and charged him with fleeing and multiple counts of reckless driving.
“General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor was fatally shot early Saturday when he came upon three men trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the case.
The incident occurred around 3:25 a.m. when the owner of a vehicle encountered three people near Pico Boulevard and Hope Street attempting to steal the car part, said Officer Jader Chaves, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. The man was shot by one of the thieves before all three fled in a vehicle, said Chaves. The officer did not identify the victim but said he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A source on Sunday confirmed to The Times that the victim was Wactor, who played Brando Corbin on “General Hospital” from 2020 to 2022. He also had roles on other shows, including “Westworld,” “Criminal Minds” and “Station 19.”
Wactor, who had been working as a bartender in downtown L.A. on Saturday evening, was walking a co-worker to her car after their shift, Wactor’s brother, Grant Wactor, told The Times on Sunday. On the way, he noticed a group of men crowded around his car, and he confronted them because he thought he was being towed.
That was when he was shot.
The thieves were after Wactor’s catalytic converter, police said. The exhaust emission control device is typically found in the undercarriage of a vehicle and contains precious metals including rhodium, palladium and platinum. Thieves can make hundreds of dollars selling them to auto parts suppliers or scrapyards, where they can be melted down and the valuable metals extracted.
“My mother is tough as nails, but she’s broken down to the bone,” said Grant Wactor, Johnny’s younger brother. “We have to get him back to Charleston [S.C.]. It’s just a shame. It seems like it was just the wrong place, wrong time.”
Wactor, 37, left “General Hospital” in 2022 when his popular character was written out of the show. At the time, he told Soap Opera Digest he enjoyed the show’s large and loyal fan base.
“It was all new to me, and it was a blessing,” he said. “It made it fun to go to work and then be excited about seeing people react to the storylines you were in. That they actually cared was really cool.”
Former colleagues took to social media to mourn Wactor’s death on Sunday.
“Johnny Wactor was a beautiful, beautiful soul,” former “General Hospital” actor Parry Shen said on X. “We all were cheated of many years with him.”
Jon Lindstrom, a longtime cast member on the ABC soap, posted: “I am literally sick to my stomach at this news.” He called Wactor “one of those rare young men in this business who was kind, unassuming, humble.”
Grant Wactor said his brother was drawn to acting from an early age. Growing up in Sommerville, S.C., Johnny participated in every play he could in his elementary and middle schools. Not long after graduating from the College of Charleston in 2009, he packed up his Honda Civic and made the cross-country drive to Los Angeles to begin his acting career.
“I can’t emphasize how hard of a worker he was,” Grant Wactor said. “He would flip the Scrabble board at home because he was so competitive. But he was also one of the most charismatic people I knew. Because when he talked or listened, you could tell it was genuine.”
Johnny Wactor had recently been exploring opportunities in screenwriting while working temporarily as a bartender.
“He lived life his way,” Grant Wactor said. “He did exactly what he wanted, even to his last day. That’s who he was day in, day out. He walked the walk.”
Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.
The scheme had a lot of moving parts, but was surprisingly simple.
The Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force, which has been investigating the plot for nearly two years, said it unfolded like this: Andre Angelo Reyes, 36, allegedly purchased traffic collision reports that contained personal information of drivers involved in crashes across Southern California from Rosa Isela Santistevan, a 55-year-old California Highway Patrol employee.
Investigators say Reyes would give the documents to a third individual, Esmeralda Parga, 26, who would call the drivers and pretend to be from their insurance company. She would allegedly coordinate for their damaged cars to be taken to a specific repair center, CA Collision, whose owner, Anthony Gomez, 35, was also in on the scheme, authorities said.
Then the repair shop would contact the insurance companies and demand cash to have the cars released, authorities said.
Investigators allege the scheme resulted in 19 fraudulent claims resulting in a loss of more than $353,000 to insurance companies. This month, a total of 15 people involved in the scheme, including Reyes, of Corona; Santistevan, of Irvine; Parga, of Pomona; and Gomez, of Jurupa Valley, were charged with insurance fraud, grand theft by trick and false impersonation, state investigators wrote in a press release. The others were:
Ezequiel Baltazar Orozco, 30, of Los Angeles
Antonio Terrazas Perez Jr., 19, of Los Angeles
Erika Garcia, 31, of Los Angeles
Israel Avila Sandoval, 45, of Pomona
Luis Alberto Ramirez Jr., 32, of San Bernardino
Robert Arzac, 49, of West Covina
Antonio Ramirez Perez, 44, of Los Angeles
Brian Anthony Lopez, 25, of Anaheim
Emily Marie Boatman, 26, of Ontario
Ricardo Parga Jr., 23, of Pomona
Steven Anthony Alfaro, 38, of Buena Park
The Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force, which includes representatives from the California Department of Insurance, the California Highway Patrol, the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office and the Riverside County district attorney’s office, launched its investigation in November 2022 after it was discovered that a CHP employee was apparently selling traffic collision reports.
Investigators say the scheme began after Reyes donated to several CHP events and parties and befriended Santistevan and other CHP employees.
While executing search warrants on various properties during the investigation, authorities said they found evidence, including a video, of another type of insurance fraud called “collusive collisions,” in which participants intentionally crash cars to collect insurance payments.
The video showed someone driving a Polaris Slingshot through a darkened road at night, blasting hip-hop music. The video cuts to someone doing donuts in the vehicle while another person films it. The next scene shows a BMW slamming into the front of the Slingshot. The man filming the crash says, “Oops.”
Authorities said the individuals involved in the scam claimed the damage resulted from two separate crashes that occurred on a freeway.
“And that’s just how we do it,” the unidentified man says in the video as the two cars are being loaded onto a tow truck. “Two birds killed in one shot.”
Leroy Williams waits to cross 17th Avenue at Garfield Street to get to City Park, May 16, 2017.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
17th and 18th avenues — two fast-moving one-way streets, particularly as they approach downtown — are getting a safety overhaul as part of the city’s effort to end traffic deaths, a trend that has only increased in recent years.
The proposed changes are just that: proposals. The city is still seeking feedback to refine the plan.
But what officials hear could reshape 17th and 18th avenues between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard.
How so?
Most notably, cars would drop down from three to two lanes of cars on 17th Avenue between Logan Street and Washington Street, and on 18th Avenue between Washington Street and Pennsylvania Street. This would decrease the number of lanes cyclists must cross along the Pearl Street bikeway.
The city would also add flashing crosswalks at those spots.
In an effort to speed up bus traffic, the city would also install curb extensions at eastbound bus stops along 17th Avenue that would expand space for riders and stop buses from pulling in and out of traffic, cutting down travel time.
The plan would add lane shifts at certain sections alongside 18th Avenue which would prompt cars to slow down.
The two avenues would also get curb extensions with paint and posts, extending the sidewalk line, improving visibility, shortening the crossing distance for pedestrians and slowing down cars.
But Denver is still a ways out from shovels in the ground.
The city plans to complete designs by spring of 2025 at the latest.
A 19-year-old was shot and killed by a motorcyclist early Saturday morning on the eastbound 10 Freeway in Covina.
The rider of a black Harley Davidson-style motorcycle fired multiple shots into the passenger side of a white Chevrolet Camaro, striking the car and killing the 19-year-old driver, according to a news release from the California Highway Patrol.
The driver was from Bloomington in San Bernardino County, the release said. He was identified by the medical examiner’s office as Alexander Espino.
Police responded to the attack at 2:16 a.m. A male passenger in the Camaro, who was unharmed, helped steer the car to the Via Verde Street offramp of the freeway and called 911, police said.
Espino was pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The CHP closed the freeway for the investigation into Espino’s death, reopening the route about 8 a.m. Saturday.
CHP investigators are determining what led to the shooting and searching for the suspect. Any witnesses or anyone with further information are encouraged to contact CHP investigator M. Prado at (626) 338-1164, the release said.
The GMC Yukon brings together the family-carrying capacity of a minivan and the heavy-hauling dynamics of a pickup truckThis vehicle can tackle just about anything you throw at it or hook it up to.
The Yukon offers two V8 engines: the smaller, more fuel-friendly 5.3-litre and a potent 6.2-litre option. Both use stop/start technology and Dynamic Fuel Management, which allows the engine to run on fewer than eight cylinders when maximum power isn’t required, greatly reducing fuel consumption.
Just make sure you’ll benefit from the capability. Powerful V8 engines and high towing capacity mean SUVs like this are thirstier than smaller and less powerful options, even if the latest engineering helps the powertrain lineup respect your fuel dollars as much as possible. That’s especially true if you opt for a diesel-powered model. Though you’ll likely pay a little more up front, the fuel savings should quickly see money back in your pocket after a few years—especially if you do a lot of highway driving.
What else should you look for when shopping for a used Yukon? The AT4 trim grade features a high-tech suspension and rear axle that makes the drive simultaneously more comfortable and agile, and you should see it soak up bumpy roads and tear through icy, snowy conditions with a proper set of winter rubber installed. (My personal favourite is the Michelin X-Ice.)
Then, there’s the straight-six turbo diesel engine, dubbed Duramax, which provides the torque of a 6.2-litre V8 but turns in the fuel economy of a much less potent V6 crossover.
When GM announced it would bring the same Duramax diesel engines it employs in its pickup trucks over to its full-size SUVs, including the luxurious GMC Yukon Denali, shoppers got excited.
Although 277 horsepower seems low for a vehicle of the Yukon’s considerable size and weight, torque is the all-important number when it comes to moving a heavy object, and this 3-litre straight-six delivers plenty of it, with 460 lb-ft. That matches the output of the (much thirstier) 6.2-litre V8, but makes the bulk of that torque available right out of idle. Though it can’t match the V8 engines when it comes to the soundtrack, the Duramax is smoother and quieter than most test-driving shoppers will expect.
If you’re after an upscale SUV experience, opt for a Yukon Denali. This popular trim grade comes dressed up and decked out for a luxurious feel, yet it lacks the snootiness of many competitors, most of which can’t match the Yukon’s reputation for inspiring confidence via its tough and proven platform. The GMC Yukon has earned industry recognition, too. The 2021 model stuffed its trophy rack with impressive hardware: an InMoment eNVy Award for Best Large SUV, Four Wheeler’s SUV of the Year award, and Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value award for a full-size SUV.
Before you buy a used GMC Yukon
The latest-generation GMC Yukon was all new for model year 2021, meaning it should be easy to find a lower-mileage unit with plenty of remaining warranty, if your budget allows.
If this is your first foray into the world of owning a large SUV, be sure to fully understand the cost of its maintenance requirements, replacement tires, winter tires, fuel and insurance before making a decision. The longest-lasting SUVs on the road tend to be the ones that are the best-maintained.
Have a look at all service records before you buy, or make sure they’re accessible to the selling dealership. In the unlikely event that you need a warranty-related repair, you may need to prove that all maintenance and servicing is up to date. Remember, the used Yukon’s remaining warranty doesn’t cover damage or wear caused by non-factory parts or fluids, or a failure to maintain the vehicle properly.
Model years 2018 and 2019 were built towards the end of the Kia Soul’s second generation, after five or six years in production. The third generation hit the market for model year 2020, but buying a used car from towards the end of an earlier generation is often a safe bet, as many bugs and problems from earlier units have been worked out.
The Soul has been a strong success for Kia, which has sold well over a million units since this car first hit showrooms in 2008. Launching the next generation of a beloved vehicle requires great care—you don’t want to alienate the buyers drawn to the Soul’s signature mix of fun, efficiency and practicality, bundled together in a wrapper that screams, “Let’s play!”
The Soul has always had distinctive styling, but the third generation moves away from the folksy, cartoonish design cues toward a look that’s decidedly sharper and more modern.
The interior plastics seem well chosen, and the build quality is above average for the dollar. Test-driving shoppers can expect to find loads of goodies, especially on top trim grades. A key highlight of the interior? Ambient mood lighting that’s connected to your music. Drivers can select the hues and brightness of the array of concealed LED lights on board, bathing the cabin with colour after dark and even reacting to your playlists.
If you’re opting for a third-generation Soul (2020 model year or newer), you won’t easily mistake it for anything else on the road—that’s a good thing.
The tall and boxy shape of the Soul is a styling statement that does double duty to create generous headroom and maximized cargo capacity. It’s not a big machine, but it feels like one on board. The tall and upright driving position gives drivers the secure and in-command feel of a larger SUV, without the fuel bill.
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The Kia Soul engine: What’s really inside this used car?
Efficient four-cylinder engines are found between the Soul’s front wheels, including high-performing turbocharged options. An electric version is available, too. Though you won’t find any models equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), the Soul delivers strongly on what most Canadian shoppers want: a roomy and flexible vehicle that’s easy on fuel and ready for any adventure. Pet owners take note: the low cargo floor height makes canine jump-in a cinch.
In 2017, a new 1.6-litre turbo engine joined the lineup, with 201 horsepower. Though most used models will have an automatic or dual-clutch transmission, be sure to search for a used Kia Soul with manual gearbox if you like to row your own gears. Manual five- or six-speed transmissions were available, commonly on more basic units.
The F-150 is perennially popular. If Ford stopped selling everything it makes besides the F-150, it would still be a Fortune 500 company. With a strong connection to buyers and how they use their pickup trucks, Ford has made updates and enhancements over numerous F-150 generations, culminating in a model that easily takes a position on my list of the 10 best used cars in Canada.
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Is the Ford F-150 a good truck?
Yes, it’s a great choice new or used. The Ford F-150 offers great value among pre-owned trucks because of its excellent durability, fuel-efficient engine lineup, and array of tech and connectivity features that help owners to stay productive and in touch on the move. The use of lightweight aluminum bodies (as of model year 2015) and a range of EcoBoost engines (which launched in 2011) help keep fuel costs highly respectable, too.
The Lariat trim grade represents somewhat of a sweet spot in the F-150 lineup. It boasts many nice-to-haves, like heated and cooled leather seats, and it’s priced more reasonably than some of the more luxury-oriented versions like the Limited, King Ranch or Platinum, each of which represents a luxury trim grade designed to give drivers a taste of top-of-the-line motoring.
For model year 2018, Ford added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology and a pre-collision assist feature with pedestrian detection, along with a technology package for models with the 2.7-litre EcoBoost engine.
An impressive trophy rack includes recent recognition from J.D. Power and Associates as the Best Large Light Duty Pickup of 2020. In 2021, the 2022 Ford F-150 was called the North American Truck of the Year by an independent jury of 50 professional automotive journalists from Canada and the United States.
The Ford F-150 engine: What’s really inside this used truck?
If it’s in your budget, shopping for a 2017 or newer F-150 is likely your best bet. An extensive update for that model year brought higher towing capacity, wider deployment of safety and connectivity tech across the lineup, and an extensively reworked powertrain lineup that included the second-generation 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine and a new 10-speed automatic transmission rolled out as standard across most of the model range. These improvements helped the F-150 deliver stronger performance and refinement, while using less fuel.
Other engine options include a 3.3-litre V6, a 5-litre V8 (dubbed Coyote) and a 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6, ideal for shoppers looking for a balanced mix of efficiency and low-rev torque response.
From model year 2018 and on, fuel-saving auto start-stop was added to all engines, the 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 was updated for additional efficiency by way of a new fuel injection system, and a major exterior refresh was applied, too.
The PowerStroke turbo-diesel V6 was introduced for this model year as well, though this short-lived engine option was discontinued in 2021 to make room for the new PowerBoost V6 engine, a hybrid option that appeared that year. A used F-150 with the PowerBoost engine won’t be cheap, though its fuel-saving hybrid tech also enables this engine to function as a built-in generator to power your job site, campsite, or power tools and toys.
Checking a used F-150 before you buy
Regardless of the age or mileage of the used F-150 you’re considering, its current condition will depend on how it’s been used and maintained during its life with previous owners.
Add confidence to your purchase by opting for a model sold as part of a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program at a Ford dealership. CPO requires used F-150s to meet a higher standard of quality and condition than units sold privately. Used models sold as part of a CPO program often include additional perks like extended warranty coverage and roadside assistance.
If you’re buying privately, having the F-150 checked over by a Ford technician in a dealer setting is ideal for maximum peace of mind. Contact your local dealer and ask to schedule a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). This usually costs less than $250 and is your single best defense against an F-150 that’s concealing pricey problems.
But before we get into the Toyota Corolla review, let’s give props to Akio Toyoda. In 2016, Toyota’s then-president and CEO (he stepped down in January 2023) declared that he was done with boring cars, delighting everyone who dearly missed the last-generation Supra, MR2 or Celica, amongst others. Toyoda knew he was making a bold claim—Toyota is one of the world’s largest carmakers, and ushering in sweeping changes takes time.
Since Toyoda issued that challenge to his team, however, the company’s progress has been brisk—it has released new versions of the Camry and Supra, as well as the company’s bestseller: the Corolla.
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Is the Toyota Corolla a good car?
Yes, it’s a great car, and improvements have kept coming over the years. For model year 2014, Toyota launched an all-new version of the Corolla, complete with standard 17-inch wheels, a more chiselled exterior design and improved fuel efficiency thanks to a new transmission and ECO trim level. This 11th-generation Corolla was refreshed for model year 2017, just in time for the car’s 50th birthday: it received new safety features, styling updates and interior improvements.
In 2019, the Corolla hatchback arrived, and 2020 marked the introduction of a new 12th-generation sedan model complete with available hybrid power. Model year 2021 saw the introduction of a sportier Corolla Apex Edition model with unique styling and a higher-performing suspension. The 2021 Corolla also got Android Auto, joining Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay functionality added the previous year. Additional airbags make for 10 in total, and advanced safety equipment is now standard across a wider range of models. If it’s in your budget, a 2021 Corolla is likely your best bet.
If we hadn’t told you the car in the photo above was a Corolla, would you have known? It looks particularly slick in Blue Flame paint, which is about as far from Corolla’s default livery of beige as you can get. Toyota front grilles can be pretty polarizing, but this car makes the design look cool.
The excitement has been amped up inside as well—not as dramatically as on the outside, but what the interior lacks in style, the Corolla makes up for in function. Toyota’s expertise in build quality and ergonomics is on full display, and everything is tastefully designed. The dashboard features an eight-inch infotainment screen with Toyota’s Entune app suite.
On the safety front, Toyota’s got you covered with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and safety technologies including blind spot warning, collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure alert/steering assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams.
The Toyota Corolla engine: What’s really inside this used car?
While the recent Corolla Hatchback is undeniably sportier than its predecessors, it isn’t ready for the big leagues just yet. Let’s look at the engine, a 2.5-litre unit that Toyota calls “Dynamic Force.” The good points: It makes much more power than before and sports a lofty 13:1 compression ratio but still runs happily and efficiently on regular gas.
The downside: The horsepower seems to be provided by Clydesdales instead of thoroughbreds (meaning it doesn’t really feel all that quick), the engine doesn’t sound thrilled to be revved past 4,000 rpm, and when we shift gears, its management software causes it to hang on to revs more dearly than an aging star quarterback clinging to faded glory.
Elizabeth Case was 36 at the time of her son Casen’s death, according to Alabama records.
One evening in October 2019, Case took her son “dumpster diving,” then returned home shortly before 6 a.m., according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Limestone County.
She went to bed and didn’t wake up until the child’s grandmother banged on the door at 1:30 p.m. because she couldn’t find her grandson, family said in the lawsuit.
Together, they searched for the child before finding him in the car, WHNT reported in 2023.
“Instead of seeking immediate medical assistance, Defendant Elizabeth Anne Case took Casen inside the home and inexplicably placed him in the shower,” the family said in the lawsuit.
The grandmother called 911, then three of them got in the car and drove in the direction of the hospital, meeting first responders along the way, according to WHNT.
The child was pronounced dead at the hospital, and his official cause of death was hyperthermia, or an overly high bodily temperature, family said in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was later dismissed, the attorney who filed it told McClatchy News.
The mom was initially charged with capital murder, but the charge was dismissed and she was indicted on lesser charges, according to WAFF. Case, now 40, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March, and will spend 20 years in prison, the outlet reported.
The woman’s attorney information was not available in Limestone County jail records.
Limestone County is in northern Alabama along the border of Tennessee, about a 25-mile drive west from Huntsville.
‘Blows my mind’: North Carolina woman made $50K in car payments — and barely reduced the $84K loan. How to avoid this
The sticker prices on automobiles are higher than ever, but the monthly payments for leases and financing — with all the interest and fees rolled in — are truly where the staggeringly high figures can be found.
Blaisey Arnold knows this firsthand, three years into owning her Chevy Tahoe. The mom of three says in her viral TikTok video that she financed the vehicle at $84,000 and paid $1,400 every month for the past three years, which comes to around $50,000.
Yet the North Carolina mom says she still owes at least $74,000 on the car loan.
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“Honestly, that blows my mind,” she says to the camera. Her audience clearly feels the same way: “You need to learn about interest rate,” one commenter said.
Leaving aside the specifics of her situation — which seems to be particularly extreme — auto loans can be crippling to a household’s budget, even if you’re not splurging on a top-of-the-line SUV.
Interest rates are climbing
Arnold doesn’t disclose the interest or annual percentage rate (APR) that’s attached to her Tahoe loan.
APR is a measure of the total yearly cost of a loan, including the interest rate and all additional fees. It’s determined according to a host of factors, such as the key interest rates set by the Federal Reserve, retailers’ own borrowing terms and, importantly, your credit score (a higher credit score will yield a lower APR, and vice versa).
In another video, Arnold says that her husband pays 14% APR on his 2020 GMC AT4 Sierra 1500. She adds that his monthly payment —$1,600 — is greater than her own.
According to Experian, the average borrowing rate for a new vehicle was 7.03% in Q3 2023, up from 5.26%; for a used vehicle, the average was 11.35%, up from 9.38% last year.
Arnold says she and her husband bought the AT4 in 2022 and yet they still owe $72,000 to $74,000 of the $78,000 purchase price.
Arnold’s family’s car situation seems especially dire. She doesn’t provide enough information to explain how only about 20% of her own monthly payment is apparently being applied to the principal.
What is true for every car buyer, however, is that, unlike your home, an automobile loses value the second you drive it off the lot. Car insurer Progressive estimates that cars lose 20% of their value within the first year, and continue to lose 15% every year until about the fourth or fifth year.
For this reason, auto loans often end up “underwater” — a situation in which the outstanding principal is greater than the value of the car or truck.
How to avoid high loan rates
Arnold has decided to get rid of her Tahoe, though she doesn’t say whether her husband plans to give away his truck.
“Do not pay so much for something that is so irrelevant,” she warns her followers.
Arnold decided to ditch the Tahoe and buy an Audi in cash so she won’t have any more car payments. The reason she can do this — despite being in major car debt — is because her TikTok career has taken off.
In one of her videos, Arnold shows that she made nearly $4,000 off of just two TikTik videos in March.
Paying cash for a car is the best way to avoid any interest, but it’s not possible for most Americans.
Still, if you’re in Arnold’s position and don’t have a thriving TikTok career, there are still ways to get out from under your car payment, according to personal finance celebrity Dave Ramsey.
Ramsey would endorse Arnold’s TikTok side hustle. He recommends getting an extra job so that you can make more payments on your auto loans.
Ramsey would also like that Arnold plans to get rid of her Tahoe. He told a listener in a similar position that he ought to consolidate the auto loans on his multiple cars — and then sell some of them to pay off the remaining balance.
The personal finance radio show host also says that you can go straight to the lender and negotiate with them on your rate. This must be done in-person.
“Not on the phone and for God sakes not by email!” he says. “Go sit down and look ‘em in the eye.”
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
