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3 Las Vegas residents on spring break are killed in fiery crash on PCH in Huntington Beach; DUI suspect identified

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Three people were killed, another was injured and a woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in a fiery crash that temporarily closed part of Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach early Thursday, police said.

Huntington Beach police responded at 1:08 a.m. to a report of a crash involving two vehicles at PCH and Magnolia Street. A Toyota was on fire in the intersection when officers arrived, Officer Angela Bennett said.

Bennett said a Hyundai Sonata traveling north on Pacific Coast Highway struck the Toyota, which was stopped at a red light at the intersection with Magnolia.

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Three people in the Toyota were killed. A male passenger who was able to get out of the vehicle was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries, police said.

Investigators have not identified the victims, describing them only as three young Las Vegas residents who were in Southern California for their spring break.

Bani Duarte, 27, of San Clemente was arrested on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Huntington Beach police accident investigator Joshua Page at (714) 536-5670.

KTLA contributed to this report.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN


UPDATES:

10:20 p.m.: This article was updated with the description of the victims.

11:40 a.m.: This article was updated with the suspect’s identity and additional details.

This article was originally published at 8:05 a.m.

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