A man who was allegedly under the influence when he drove into flood water in Yuba County on Saturday night, resulting in the death of his female passenger, has been arrested, CHP officials told KTLA sister station KTXL.
The unidentified 52-year-old old woman died after becoming trapped inside the vehicle, which was fully submerged in 6 to 8 feet of water, the station reported.
Neng Yang, the 55-year-old driver, made it out safely, according to the California Highway Patrol.
He was driving in Olivehurst on McGowen Parkway when he got stuck in the waters in a closed off stretch of roadway between highways 65 and 70 around 7:15 p.m., the station reported.
CHP officials told the station the driver did not see the flooded area, and proceeded at speeds of about 65 mph.
Yang was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter, according to KTXL.
He has been booked into the Yuba County Jail on charges of DUI with injury and vehicular manslaughter with special circumstance, inmate records showed.
Yang’s bail has been set at $250,000.