Deadly DUI Accident
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – An unlicensed motorist accused of killing two of his passengers in a driving under the influence wreck on the south end of Jurupa Valley was charged last Wednesday with two counts of second-degree murder.
Bryan Cruz Arenas, 23, of Jurupa Valley was arrested last Saturday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the deaths of 18-year-old Sabrina De Lara of Eastvale and 24-year-old Javier Rios of Jurupa Valley.
Arenas pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday afternoon before Superior Court Judge Melissa Hale, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Sept. 12 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
The judge ordered Arenas held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail. His bail had been previously set at $75,000.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Rafael Lopez said shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, the defendant was driving a van at an unconfirmed speed eastbound on Limonite Avenue, just west of Beach Street, when he slammed into another vehicle.
Two of his passengers, Lara and Rios, suffered grave injuries in the collision, possibly because they weren’t wearing safety restraints.
Lopez said patrol deputies and paramedics reached the location within a few minutes and discovered both victims dead.
Arenas was given a field sobriety test and confirmed to be intoxicated, the sergeant said.
The defendant was taken to jail after undergoing a pre-booking medical check. He wasn’t hurt.
The driver of the other vehicle, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, along with several other passengers riding with Lopez, also not identified, were transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries.
The intersection of Limonite and Beach was shut down all Saturday morning while a preliminary investigation was conducted and the wreckage was cleared.
Court records indicated Arenas has documented prior convictions, but they weren’t specified.
For More Law and Disorder Visit www.zapinin.com/law-and-disorder