An unlicensed motorist suspected of killing two of his passengers in a driving under the influence wreck on the south end of Jurupa Valley is expected to be charged Wednesday with gross vehicular manslaughter and other offenses.
Bryan Cruz Arenas, 23, of Jurupa Valley was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside Saturday on suspicion of DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI resulting in injuries and driving without a license.
Arenas’ case was under review Tuesday by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Rafael Lopez said that shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, the suspect 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, identified by coroner’s officials as 18-year-old Sabrina de Lara of Eastvale and 24-year-old Javier Rios of Jurupa Valley, suffered grave injuries in the collision, possibly because they weren’t wearing safety restraints.
Lopez said that patrol deputies and paramedics reached the location within a few minutes and discovered the victims dead.
Arenas was given a field sobriety test and confirmed to be intoxicated, the sergeant said.
The suspect 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.
Background information on the Arenas was unavailable.