Passenger Killed, Driver Arrested in Crash
One man is dead and another was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after their car hit a tree on the corner of Bonita Drive and Madera Road in Simi Valley early Monday.
Police responded to the report of a disturbance at the intersection at 4:47 a.m. When they arrived on the scene, they found the car accident instead.
Manuel Contreras Chavez, believed to have been 36 years old, was pronounced dead at Simi Valley Hospital from injuries sustained in the collision.
Martin R. Mandera, 26, the driver, had left the scene and was later found at a nearby residence, police said. After being treated for minor facial injuries and bruises at Simi Valley Hospital, he was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run, driving under the influence of alcohol, and vehicular manslaughter, police said.
Another man at the scene, Jose L. Chavez, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication.
Police initially believed he was a passenger in the car but later determined that he was in a car that had stopped at the scene of the accident.
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