April 26, 2016 Whittier police arrested a teen driver on suspicion of a DUI after the SUV he was driving rolled over and killed another teen. Ninet
April 26, 2016
Whittier police arrested a teen driver on suspicion of a DUI after the SUV he was driving rolled over and killed another teen. Nineteen-year-old Daniel Vazquez, of Whittier, was suspected to have been driving drunk. The District Attorney expects to charge him with vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI.
The tragic accident happened at about 11:30 in the morning on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. According to reports, the SUV was speeding southbound on Villaverde Drive and lost control at the 8400 block. The vehicle left the road, striking a brick mailbox near the sidewalk and flipping over on its roof.
The first witness at the scene reported that the SUV sounded like it had been driving “awfully fast”. He also reported that after the rollover, there were beer cans strewn around near the vehicle.
In addition to Vasquez, the SUV was carrying five teen students from La Serna High School in Whittier. Fourteen-year-old Ivette Macias was fatally injured in the rollover and two other girls, 14 and 15, were left in critical condition. Another 14-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and Vazquez, were also seriously injured.
A week later, one of the injured teens remained in the hospital while the other survivors and students at La Serna High School remembered Macias at a tearful school vigil.