Teens badly hurt in crash, DUI suspected

COVINA -- Four teenage passengers were badly hurt and a 19-year-old man is suspected of drunken driving following a solo-car crash early Saturday, police said.
Police believe Francisco Javier Ramirez Jr. of West Covina was drunk while he was at the wheel of the 1994 Toyota Camry involved in the wreck.
Two girls and two boys from Baldwin Park, ranging in age from 15 to 17, were hospitalized with serious injuries following the violent crash, which occurred about 1 a.m. on San Bernardino Road at Grand Avenue, Covina police Lt. John Curley said.
Three of the passengers were thrown through the back windshield of the car and onto the street, and another had to be freed from the wreckage by firefighters, the lieutenant said. One passengers was flown to a hospital by helicopter.
"This car was completely demolished," he said.
Ramirez, who was the least badly hurt, was also hospitalized with serious injuries, Curley said.
Ramirez was driving with his passengers eastbound on San Bernardino Road when, according to witness statements, he ran a red light at Grand Avenue, Curley said.
"The vehicle spun out of control and struck two large palm trees before coming to rest on the curb line," he said.
The relationship between the five occupants of the car was not clear late Saturday.