MODJESKA : Passenger Dies When Steel Rail Hits Him
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A 17-year-old passenger of a pickup truck was killed Saturday night when the driver slammed into a steel rail that pierced the truck and hit the victim, the California Highway Patrol said.
The driver, Jose Rico, 24, of Santa Ana, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving and manslaughter, CHP dispatcher Joe David said.
Rico’s 1988 Toyota pickup was traveling south on Modjeska Canyon Road near Markuson Road at 11 p.m. Saturday when Rico abruptly swerved his truck and hit a steel guardrail, David said. The rail sliced through the truck and pierced Sandro Rico, 17, of Mexico, pinning him to the bed of the truck, David said.
Rico and another passenger, Ramiro Ponce, 42, of Santa Ana, were not injured, David said.
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