Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Young Women Die in Crash Caused by Speeding and Intoxication

Young drivers often get involved in fatal accidents because of their inexperience and aggressiveness.

Three young women recently died when their vehicle was hit by a wrong-way driver along Weedpatch Highway around midnight. The 19-year-old negligent driver, identified as Leonel Nunez Jr., was said to be speeding and was found to be intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Nunez was said to be driving a 2000 Pontiac Trans Am on the southbound lane with 20-year-old Ricardo Parra and 18-year-old Vincent Alvarez when he suddenly shifted to the northbound lanes where the women’s vehicle was attempting to turn from Reynolds Avenue.

The driver of the 1997 Plymouth Breeze was identified as 20-year-old Esmeralda Soriano. Soriano was with Marilupe Madrigal, 18, and 17-year-old Giselle Madrid at the time of the accident. The three young women died on the scene.

Nunez sustained only a cut on his arm while his passengers sustained minor injuries. He was arrested and may possibly face two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury as well as three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.