Man suspected of DUI in fatal El Monte crash
EL MONTE -- A woman was killed and a suspected drunken driver was jailed early Sunday following a crash on the 10 Freeway in El Monte, authorities said.
The dead woman's name was not released pending notification of her family, coroner's officials said.
Officials initially described her as a 41-year-old Ontario woman.
Thomas E. Vanauken, 43, of Anaheim was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunken driving causing death and drunken driving in connection with the 2:40 a.m. crash, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Kurt Stormes said in a written statement.
"(Vanauken) was driving his 2009 Acura MDX SUV on the I-10 eastbound east of Santa Anita Avenue, in the NO. 1 lane at a speed (witnesses) indicated to be over 120 mph," Stormes said.
The Ontario woman was driving a 1995 Mitsubishi with two passengers ahead of the Acura and braked for slowing traffic just before the crash, he said.
"Due to (Vanauken's) intoxication and his unsafe speed, his vehicle rear-ended the Mitsubishi," according to the statement.
Officials rushed the woman driving the Mitsubishi to the hospital, where she died shortly after 3 a.m., Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Capt. John Kades said.
A 32-year-old Pomona woman who was riding in the Mitsubishi suffered moderate injuries in the crash, Stormes said, and a 35-year-old Upland woman who was also a passenger was not injured.
Vanauken suffered minor injuries, he added.
According to sheriff's booking records, Vanauken was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail and is due for arraignment in Pomona Superior Court Tuesday.
The dead woman's name was not released pending notification of her family, coroner's officials said.
Officials initially described her as a 41-year-old Ontario woman.
Thomas E. Vanauken, 43, of Anaheim was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunken driving causing death and drunken driving in connection with the 2:40 a.m. crash, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Kurt Stormes said in a written statement.
"(Vanauken) was driving his 2009 Acura MDX SUV on the I-10 eastbound east of Santa Anita Avenue, in the NO. 1 lane at a speed (witnesses) indicated to be over 120 mph," Stormes said.
The Ontario woman was driving a 1995 Mitsubishi with two passengers ahead of the Acura and braked for slowing traffic just before the crash, he said.
"Due to (Vanauken's) intoxication and his unsafe speed, his vehicle rear-ended the Mitsubishi," according to the statement.
Officials rushed the woman driving the Mitsubishi to the hospital, where she died shortly after 3 a.m., Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Capt. John Kades said.
A 32-year-old Pomona woman who was riding in the Mitsubishi suffered moderate injuries in the crash, Stormes said, and a 35-year-old Upland woman who was also a passenger was not injured.
Vanauken suffered minor injuries, he added.
According to sheriff's booking records, Vanauken was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail and is due for arraignment in Pomona Superior Court Tuesday.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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