A suspected drunk driver who was arrested over the weekend following a chain-reaction crash in Santa Ana that left an 18-year-old man dead and five others injured was driving with a suspended license, police said Sunday.
Herbert Granados Calderon’s license had also previously been suspended for driving under the influence, a news release from the Santa Ana Police Department stated.
The 23-year-old Santa Ana resident was traveling southbound in a Lexus on Bristol Street on Saturday night when he allegedly ran a red light at Central Avenue and broadsided a Honda, which then collided with a Chevrolet pickup truck, according to police.
A passenger of the Honda, identified by the Orange County Coroner’s office as Robert Rubio of Santa Ana, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other people in the Honda were injured and taken to a local hospital. They were last reported to be in stable condition.
Calderon and three passengers sustained minor injuries and were also trasnported to the hospital.
Santa Ana police spokesman Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said that Calderon was arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter and DUI.
His bail was initially set at $100,000, but police later said he being held without bail.
In the aftermath of the fatal crash, Rubio’s family and friends gathered at the crash site over the weekend to remember the popular teen.
A makeshift memorial featuring candles, cards, balloons and flowers remained at the crash scene as of Monday morning, a day after mourners attended a candlelight vigil in memory of the teen.
Those who knew Rubio remembered the student-athlete as being well-liked and a good person who always had a smile on his face.
“Everybody loved him… people loved being around him cause of just the way he is. He’s a great person. Always fun to be around with,” said Bryana Rebollar, Rubio’s friend.
“It’s crazy how it just happened,” Rebollar added. “They weren’t even the ones driving bad, they were doing everything good and they just got hit.”
Another friend said there was widespread disbelief following news of Rubio’s death.
“We didn’t believe it. We all rushed… over here. And we were here we just prayed, we couldn’t believe it was him,” Gustavo Sanchez said.
The crash remained under investigation. Witnesses have been asked to call Investigator Hadley of the Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit at 714-245-8216.
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