Orange Motorist Killed When Struck by Car, Dragged 30 Feet

As his wife and son watched in horror from their car, a 26-year-old Orange man was killed Friday when he was struck by another vehicle and dragged along California 60 in Riverside County.

Peter Carreras Jr. had just pulled off the freeway to get out of his Toyota sedan and change his shirt, said John Anderson, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol in Riverside.

A 1978 Fiat “drifted onto the shoulder, hit Carreras and pinned him briefly between the two vehicles,” Anderson said.

The Fiat “knocked Carreras’ car about 60 feet up the road,” Anderson said, then continued along the roadside for about 30 feet with Carreras pinned beneath it.

Carreras was dead at the scene, near Moreno Valley, Anderson said.

His wife, Diane Carreras, 24, was examined at Riverside Community Hospital and released. Their 4-year-old son, Jason, was treated there for a broken leg, then also released.

The driver of the Fiat was identified as Russell Soneff, 50, of Capitola. He suffered multiple injuries and facial cuts, and was taken to Riverside General Hospital.

Highway Patrol officers found a wooden pipe with marijuana on the Fiat’s dashboard, another metal pipe on the seat and small quantities of marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines in Soneff’s possession, Anderson said.

Charges against Soneff were not filed Friday, Anderson said, pending his release from the hospital. In the meantime, officers will consult on charges with the Riverside County district attorney’s office.