Man Arrested in Friend’s Death After Crash in Laguna
A 33-year-old man who police believe had been drinking was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after a crash Tuesday that killed his friend.
Gary Lee Skelton of Laguna Beach had been driving north on Pacific Coast Highway about noon when he made a sudden turn against oncoming traffic at Solana Way, Sgt. Greg Bartz said.
Another driver and her 4-year-old daughter were headed in the same direction on Pacific Coast Highway when their car broadsided Skelton’s, Bartz said.
Skelton’s passenger, Brian Christy, 40, of Laguna Beach, died at South Coast Medical Center. Skelton suffered broken ribs and a bruised kidney and was taken to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Bartz said.
The other driver and her daughter suffered minor injures. Skelton was in custody Tuesday in lieu of $10,000 bail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving, authorities said.
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