Suspected DUI Driver Arrested in Death of Woman in MoVal Freeway Crash

A suspected drunken and drug-impaired driver was in custody Monday after allegedly causing a crash on the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway that killed a 31-year-old woman and injured two other people, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Mariah Guzman, 23, of Colton was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence,  said CHP Officer Travis Monks. She was in custody at Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley where she and her front-seat passenger were taken for treatment of moderate injuries, he said.

The collision happened around 1:50 a.m. on the eastbound 60, near Moreno Beach Drive, in Moreno Valley, according to Monks.

Guzman was driving her 2001 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck in the HOV lane when she inexplicably veered sharply to the right, colliding with the front-end of a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe that was passing to the right at about 65 mph, Monks said.

He said the impact caused the Chevy to spin clockwise until it was facing westbound in the eastbound lanes.

The black pickup was "blacked out," with no lights activated, when it came to rest facing the wrong way on the freeway, according to witnesses.

Monks said a woman at the wheel of a 2014 Kia Forte, driving in the freeway's middle lane, did not see the pickup in time and slammed into it head- on.

The victim, identified only as a San Jacinto resident, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The 52-year-old woman driving the Hyundai suffered minor injuries and was treated and later released from RCRMC, Monks said.

According to the CHP, the eastbound 60 was partially shut down for several hours at the crash site for the investigation.

– City News Service.