Drunk-Driving Suspect Dies as Patrol Car Is Hit

A man arrested on suspicion of drunk driving died when the California Highway Patrol car in which he was sitting was struck by an auto driven by a man who apparently fell asleep at the wheel, CHP officers reported Monday.

Officers had just placed H. Lario Cervantes, 26, of El Monte in the back seat of a patrol car on the eastbound San Bernardino Freeway in West Covina when the auto of Hiroyi Shiotani, 26, of West Covina swerved out of the right lane and struck the rear of the CHP vehicle, which was parked along the side of the freeway between Azusa and Citrus avenues, CHP Officer Steve McGrath said.

Cervantes, handcuffed, suffered a broken neck and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

The patrol car lurched forward and struck CHP Officer Dustin Morrison, who was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina for treatment of a broken leg.

Shiotani was treated for cuts and bruises at Pomona Valley Community Hospital and later transferred to the jail ward of County-USC Medical Center, where he was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.