Crash Kills Boy, 16; Close Friend Booked

A 16-year-old Fullerton boy was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter Sunday in connection with the death of his best friend after the car in which they were riding went out of control and slammed into a tree, Fullerton police said.

James Nicholas Pelafigue, 16, of Placentia died of apparent internal injuries at St. Jude Hospital about 30 minutes after the 12:50 p.m. crash in a hilly residential area in north Fullerton, accident investigator Don Pearce said.

The driver of the 1974 Mercedes 450 sedan, whose name was withheld because of his age, was booked on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter and released to the custody of his parents, Pearce said. He was treated in the emergency room at St. Jude for cuts and abrasions before being booked.

The unidentified teen-ager had not been told of the death of his best friend, who appeared to have been ejected from the front passenger seat in the collision, Pearce said.

Skid marks at the scene suggest reckless driving may have led to the accident, Pearce said, adding, “No drug or alcohol use is suspected.”

According to investigators, the pair were traveling on Ladera Vista Drive when the car went out of control at a curve, left the road and struck a tree. The accident occurred in the vicinity of Acacia Avenue where Skyline Drive becomes Ladera Vista Drive. “The driver apparently lost control on the (downhill) grade,” Pearce said. “He told us there was another car approaching, but gave us little or no description of the other car.”

An investigation was continuing.