A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and DUI following a multi-vehicle crash in Santa Ana that left an 18-year-old man dead and five others injured, authorities announced Sunday.
Herbert Granados Calderon was driving on a suspended license at the time of the collision, according to a statement from the Santa Ana Police Department. His license had previously been suspended for driving under the influence, the statement said.
Officers responded about 9:21 p.m. Saturday to the intersection of Bristol Street and Central Avenue (map), where three vehicles — each carrying multiple occupants — were involved in the crash.
A Lexus, driven by Calderon, was traveling southbound on Bristol when it drove through a red light at Central and broadsided a Honda, the Police Department said. The force of the impact caused the the Honda to collide with a Chevrolet pickup truck.
Calderon, a Santa Ana resident, was found to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested at the scene, said police Cmdr. Eric Paulson. He and his three passengers were transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
One of the Honda’s three occupants died at the scene, Paulson said. The other two were taken to a hospital in stable condition.
The two occupants of the Chevrolet were not injured.
The deceased victim was later identified by the Orange County coroner’s office as Robert Rubio, of Santa Ana.
Throughout the day Sunday, dozens of friends and loved ones arrived at the crash site and contributed to a makeshift memorial erected in Rubio’s memory. A candlelight vigil was held Sunday evening.
“Everybody loved him,” said Bryana Rebollar, a friend of the the victim. “People loved being around him because of just the way he is. He’s a great person.”
An investigation into the collision is ongoing. Any witnesses were asked to call Investigator Hadley of the Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit at 714-245-8216.
