Man Dies in Crash Involving 2 Suspected Drunk Drivers
A Santa Ana man was killed early Saturday when a suspected drunk driver heading the wrong way on the Santa Ana Freeway crashed head-on into another suspected drunk driver, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Jesus Villa, 30, of Santa Ana, who apparently got onto the freeway at the 4th Street onramp in Santa Ana, was driving north in the southbound lanes when his Toyota Cressida collided with a Ford Explorer. Villa’s passenger, Enrique Nieves-Martinez, 30, died in the crash, a CHP official said.
Villa was arrested for felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter.
The driver of the Explorer, Christian Dahlson, 38, of Corona del Mar, fled the scene on foot but was arrested about half a mile away, the CHP reported. Dahlson was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run and DUI.
Nieves-Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight. Villa was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana for treatment of a broken leg and internal injuries.
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