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Passenger killed in crash with suspected DUI driver

by The AV Times Staff • September 26, 2016

LANCASTER – A female passenger was killed and two drivers sustained significant injuries early Saturday morning when two vehicles collided in a Lancaster intersection, authorities said.

The fatal collision happened around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, on Avenue I at Division Street, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

“Preliminary information gathered at the scene indicates the driver of a black, 2016 Subaru Crosstrek was traveling north on Division Street approaching Avenue I. The driver of a 2011 Toyota Highlander was traveling west on Avenue I approaching Division Street,” the news release states.

“The Toyota driver entered the intersection on a green light, and the Subaru driver entered against a red light,” the news release states.

The cars crashed in the intersection and came to rest in the parking lot of a restaurant on the northwest corner of Avenue I and Division Street. A female passenger in the Toyota was killed upon impact, according to the news release. She was identified 88-year-old Helen Gasca Meza of Lancaster, coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said Monday.

Both drivers sustained significant injuries but are expected to survive, according to the news release.

“During the investigation, it was determined the driver of the Subaru was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. When medically cleared, he will be booked for gross vehicular manslaughter,” the sheriff’s news release states.

The Subaru driver’s name was being withheld pending formal booking, sheriff’s officials said.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Lancaster

19 comments for "Passenger killed in crash with suspected DUI driver"

  1. Mario m says

    October 10, 2016 at 12:00 am

    she’s was
    already too old. Maybe it was her time . many people will die long before that age. Anyways I sorry.

    • Laughing says

      October 10, 2016 at 9:16 am

      Too old?
      You must be in your mid 20s. A quarter of the way to too old.

  2. AV Citizen says

    October 6, 2016 at 6:11 am

    This article contains false information. When the evidence comes out at trial you will see that the Subaru Driver had the green light. He was borderline .08 and was not drunk nor was he speeding. The DA charged him with murder which is totally insane he has no record, not even a ticket. He is a good person who works hard. He doesn’t deserve a murder charge.

    • Shane Faco says

      October 6, 2016 at 7:30 am

      Contrary to what you may believe, you can be charged with drunk driving even if you are under .08. He’s drunk driving and the evidence at the scene shows him to have run the light….yet you want people to believe that the driver who chose to drive drunk somehow shouldn’t be charged with murder because he has never had a ticket.

      Well, if he takes it to trial, and it sounds like he should, you should offer up your opinion during the sentencing phase.

  3. Laura Martinez says

    September 28, 2016 at 7:17 am

    I feel so bad for the lady. Nobody deserves to die like that. I know the person that was drinking and driving and never in my life did i tgink he was stupid enough to drink and drive.

    • John says

      September 28, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Who the hell is driving drunk at 4:30 in the morning? This person has some bad personal problems. Hope he finds some help.

  4. Ulises SM says

    September 27, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    Ironic that the “drunk” driver was perfect correctly driving his car, if the horrible scene occurred was because somebody in the affected car (where woman died) did not drive correctly (She missed a red light!!!!! which obviously may result in tragic result!!!!) so here alcohol technically was not really the tragedy factor.

    Please affected people think about this and please please please remove the charges on my cousin (toyota driver), I know its bad idea driving under the influence, but common, we are not perfect, he thought he could make it to his house, but never thought somebody would crash his car because when missing a red light, now he’s on really big problems. So please don’t see it like now he should to pay for it, please! he was driving correctly, I think its horrible for he being several years on on jail when he did not trigger the real fatal factor of this horrible accident.

    • VXSGuy says

      September 28, 2016 at 6:51 am

      So y are saying that he actually thought about driving impaired before he did it. So he had an option to call a family member, friend, taxi and if he thought he could make it home then he could have walked. Consequences!

    • PH says

      September 28, 2016 at 11:58 am

      “The Toyota driver entered the intersection on a green light, and the Subaru driver entered against a red light,”“During the investigation, it was determined the driver of the Subaru was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. When medically cleared, he will be booked for gross vehicular manslaughter,”

      Are we reading the same story?

      • VXSGuy says

        September 28, 2016 at 3:55 pm

        Once the individual is medically cleared from the sustained injuries is what they are referring too.

      • John says

        September 28, 2016 at 4:25 pm

        You are absolutely correct, PH. It seems that Ulises SM was mistaken that the Toyota driver was DUI when it was the Subaru driver that ran the red light while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

        Ulises SM needs to read the article a couple more times to understand it.

  5. Sorry says

    September 27, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    My condolences I will be praying for peace and comfort for the family during this difficult time.

  6. Jake Won says

    September 27, 2016 at 11:01 am

    I think we should also ban alcohol . I like someone to say what good its for?. What ?.just 1 thing .might seem fun but when its over its s*** . Nothing but fools,mistakes, head and stomach aches. PEOPLE DIE. it ends relationships causes fights dissagreements and jackasses to drive and drive RIGHT THROUGH RED LIGHTS!?!? Come on with that S***. And you can say economy,jobs and tax revenue but f*** that .the cost of damages is far beyond any $ generated .. it needs to just go to hell where it makes sense

    • Laughing says

      September 27, 2016 at 4:54 pm

      Everything you eat generates alcohol in your gut. Part of digestion.
      Also the last time it was banned did not work out so well. History is a useful tool.

  7. Karen Gonzalez says

    September 26, 2016 at 11:39 pm

    Could of said “crashed in front of Juanita, “

  8. George says

    September 26, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    Drunks prison for 40 yrs . first
    Second time life

  9. Rose says

    September 26, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    why do. Innocent people have to die because some. People drink and drive so horrible I can’t believe this innocent lady didn’t make it to her family because of some idiot that decided to go get wasted. Its so scary out here in the AV everyone drives either too fast or drunk.my condolences to the family

    • Tina Vinaja says

      September 26, 2016 at 9:34 pm

      I’ve never met you but thank you for your thoughts. We will miss grandma. We just thank God our sister, the eldest of 5 survived.

      • Robert says

        October 1, 2016 at 4:51 pm

        my grandma didn’t deserve that [removed] the dumb [removed] who was drinking should of stayed his [removed] home or call a taxi or somthing but you know you can’t handle your drink don’t [removed] drink I lost the most important person she was all I had left for a grandma I hope you get your [removed] handed to you in jail hope you don’t make it

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