The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that a 22-year-old woman lost her life in a suspected DUI crash in Pacific Beach early Sunday morning.
Authorities say that the 22-year-old man behind the wheel of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was driving under the influence of alcohol when he ran his vehicle up onto the sidewalk and struck the young woman and her 24-year-old male companion.
Sgt. Eduardo Lopez told reporters that the fatal crash happened at approximately 1:30 a.m. when the suspect was heading southbound on Riviera Drive when his pickup truck jumped the sidewalk and hit the two pedestrians who eyewitnesses say were arguing alongside their parked SUV
The Tacoma slammed into the parked SUV with a force of impact that caused it to flip on top of the couple. Despite all efforts by emergency first responders, the woman died at the scene while the man had to be extricated from underneath his vehicle.
Paramedics rushed the man to an area hospital for treatment of significant injuries. His current condition was not available at the time of the report.
The three men inside the Toyota Tacoma were uninjured in the crash.
The suspect driver has been identified as 22-year-old Nestor Hernandez. He was arrested at the scene and taken into custody.
Further investigation has revealed that Hernandez has a prior conviction for misdemeanor DUI.
