4 Die in Santa Monica Crash; Drunk Driving Suspect Held

Four people died early Sunday when an allegedly drunk driver ran his Jeep through a red light in Santa Monica, slamming it into the side of a Honda passing through the intersection, police said.

Police have booked the driver, Dariosh Sariri, 24, of Santa Monica for investigation of murder and driving under the influence. He was the only person to escape critical or fatal injuries.

Investigators identified those killed in the crash as Jacob Shalomi, 23, of Venice, who was in Sariri’s Jeep; Julie Dicks, 24, of Ladera Heights, and Santa Monica residents Robert Cash, 24, and Christopher Baker, 27, all passengers in the Honda.

The driver of the Honda, Rita Morgan, 25, of Los Angeles was clinging to life Sunday night at Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center after suffering massive head trauma. She was driving north on 14th Street at 12:45 a.m. when the accident occurred at the Wilshire Boulevard intersection, police said.

The passengers in both cars died at the scene. The force of the impact hurled the Honda Accord against the 14th Street curb. The Jeep Cherokee flipped, coming to rest on a sidewalk north of the intersection.

Sariri walked away with cuts and bruises. Police said his blood will be tested for alcohol content. He is being held without bail pending his arraignment.