Alcohol Suspected in Early Morning Crash
A suspected drunk driver and his passenger were hurt early Tuesday when their car flipped on the Riverside Freeway and was struck by another vehicle, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The rain-slick pavement may also have played a part in the 2 a.m. crash of the 1985 Honda Civic, said CHP Officer Denise Medina. Driver Jose Figueroa, 19, of Downey, was headed west on the freeway when he lost control east of Harbor Boulevard, Medina said. The car hit the center divider, rolled, slid on its roof and was then struck by a 1990 BMW.
Figueroa, who was wearing his seat belt, sustained a broken leg, a bruised liver and cuts to his head, Medina said. He was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange. His passenger, Danny Galarze, 19, also of Downey, was not wearing his seat belt and sustained a ruptured spleen and an internal head injury, Medina said. He was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana.
Figueroa was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, Medina said.
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