2 Brothers, Cousin Die in 100-M.P.H. Crash; Drunk Driving Is Suspected

Two brothers and a cousin from Moreno Valley died early Monday in a suspected drunk-driving accident as they rode home from a concert, California Highway Patrol officers said.

About 1 a.m., driver Ruben Franco Romo, 21, and his passengers were eastbound on the Riverside Freeway at 100 m.p.h., said CHP Officer Angel Johnson.

Romo lost control of his Nissan Sentra, crossed the dirt center divider and hit a westbound van near Gypsum Canyon Road, Johnson said.

Dead at the scene were Romo, his 19-year-old brother Efrin Franco Romo, who was sitting in the front seat, and cousin Raph Zamora, 17, in the back seat.

A third Romo brother who was sitting in the back, Adrian, 17, was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana with head injuries. He was in critical condition Monday, Johnson said.

The van’s driver, Timothy Shedenhelm, 35, of San Diego, and passenger Ruben Genio, 44, of Temecula, were taken to the same hospital with minor injuries, Johnson said.

“The driver’s side (of the van) luckily had an air bag,” Johnson said.

The Romo brothers and Zamora had just left an Irvine Meadows concert by the rap group Cypress Hill before the crash.

“We do suspect DUI (driving under the influence),” Johnson said. “We found numerous beer cans inside the car.”

The westbound lanes of the freeway were closed until 5:30 a.m. to clear the wreckage.