Juan Carlos Mendoza Jr., 24, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter after a crash in Fresno County killed a 24-year-old passenger. (Fresno County SO)
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A 24-year-old man was killed and three others injured in a DUI crash Saturday night west of Cedar Avenue in Fresno County, authorities said.
The crash happened around 9:53 p.m. on Mt. Whitney Avenue, where a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Juan Carlos Mendoza Jr., 24, veered off the roadway and overturned after striking several trees in a walnut orchard, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP officials said Mendoza and a female passenger in the front seat were wearing seatbelts and sustained only minor injuries. Two male passengers in the back seat were not restrained.
One of them, a 24-year-old man, was found unresponsive and had to be pulled from the wreck.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office identified him as Kevin Juarez of Fresno.
Juarez was later pronounced dead at Community Regional Medical Center despite CPR efforts at the scene and on the way to the hospital.
Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury, police said. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail after being medically cleared.
CHP urged drivers to never get behind the wheel while impaired and reminded passengers to always wear seatbelts.
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