California Highway Patrol officers Monday identified their suspect for a DUI investigation into a fatal crash near Templin Highway late Sunday night.
CHP officers with the Newhall-area Office arrested Martin Enrique Cazares, 21, of Wasco, on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter shortly after 3 a.m. Monday at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, according to CHP spokesman Carlos Burgos-Lopez.
Officers responded to a multivehicle crash in the northbound lanes, north of Templin Highway, at 11:10 p.m. Sunday, he wrote.
L.A. County Fire Department officials said Fire Station 149 on Ridge Route Road in Castaic was contacted at 11:12 p.m. regarding a two-vehicle traffic collision, and on the scene by 11:29 p.m.
“Upon officers’ arrival on scene, they located the driver of a white Jeep Cherokee … who had been ejected from the vehicle and had sustained fatal injuries,” according to an email Monday from Burgos-Lopez, who identified the victim as a 61-year-old man, whose identity was withheld pending the notification of his next of kin.
Based on the preliminary investigation, officers reported that Cazares was the at-fault party in the crash and driving under the influence.
The circumstances surrounding what caused the crash are still under investigation, Burgos-Lopez wrote in a follow-up message, adding that speed is considered a contributing factor.
“This tragic crash is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of driving under the influence. One person’s reckless decision has cost an innocent life,” according to a statement from Lt. M. Munoz, acting commander for the Newhall-area Office. “The CHP Newhall Area remains committed to removing impaired drivers from our roadways and ensuring that families don’t have to experience this kind of heartbreak.”
Cazares was released on $100,000 bail the day of the crash, according to L.A. County Sheriff’s Department custody records available online. They indicated Cazares has a Dec. 4 hearing date at L.A. County Superior Court in San Fernando.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to call Officer Madera with the CHP Newhall-area Office at 661-1600-1600. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters can also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
