5 Southern Californians Dead, 2 Critically Injured In Alleged DUI Crash In Nevada
NEVADA (CBSLA.com) — Five people were killed and two critically injured -- all members of a Southern California family -- in an early-morning crash near the Utah border Saturday morning.
At approximately 2:53 a.m. on Saturday, a 1999 Dodge Durango -- driven by an 18-year-old later charged with DUI -- and a 2002 Chevrolet AstroVan were southbound on I-15 (about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas) when the front of the Dodge reportedly struck the rear of the Chevrolet.
The AstroVan rotated clockwise and overturned. Officials said the vehicle continued traveling off the right side of the roadway. As the vehicle overturned, five of the seven occupants were ejected.
The Dodge also overturned, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety.
The AstroVan's 40-year-old female driver, who was seat belted, and a 15-year-old male passenger who was ejected, were both transported by air to University Medical Center in critical condition.
The Dodge's driver (now identified as Jean Soriano) and his 23-year-old male passenger, both from California, were transported by ground to the same hospital with non life threatening injuries.
The five deceased were identified as 53-year-old Belen Fernandez of Lynwood, 49-year-old Raudel Fernandez-Avila of Lynwood, 45-year-old Leonardo Fernandez-Avila of Los Angeles 41-year-old Genaro Fernandez of Norwalk,and 13-year-old Angela Sandoval of Los Angeles.
Soriano was treated at at the hospital and released. He was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Detention Center where he was charged with driving under the influence.
His passenger was was also treated and released.
