Five Killed When Truck Hits Vehicles on Highway Shoulder
A big-rig truck slammed into two vehicles parked on the shoulder of U.S. 101, killing five people and seriously injuring another, authorities said Saturday.
A 6-year-old-boy was among those who died; the survivor was a 7-year-old boy who was hospitalized.
The truck, driven by Willie Rodriguez, 40, of Hondo, Tex., smashed into a car and a van about 9:45 p.m. Friday several miles north of Paso Robles, said dispatcher Joan Mason of the CHP.
The vehicles had stopped along the side of the road because one of them had mechanical trouble, CHP spokeswoman Joyce Anderson said.
Armondo Juarez, 38, Antonio Juarez, 29, Henry Rodriguez, 38, Alma Rodriguez, 6, and Ezmirelda Rodriguez, 12, all of Watsonville, were killed, Mason said. Jesus Juarez, 7, also of Watsonville, was seriously injured and was being treated at Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton, Anderson said.
Willie Rodriguez, no relation to the victims, was not injured. He was arrested for investigation of vehicular manslaughter.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
