One man dead, one injured in DUI multi-car crash

SALINAS >> A Salinas man was arrested for suspected drunk driving in the wake of a car accident that led to the death of one person and injured another.

A silver Chevrolet Colorado pickup was driving on the right shoulder of southbound Highway 101 Saturday afternoon, south of Laurel Drive where an unidentified Salinas resident was replacing the left rear tire of a pickup according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol.

Krystal Cortez, a 38-year-old from Salinas was also standing next to the pickup.

During this time, a black Acura TL was being driven by Jose Sanchez Jr., a 24-year-old from Salinas, in the second lane of  southbound Highway 101.

The Acura veered off the road and sideswiped Cortez and continued in a southerly direction until the car crashed into the individual changing the tire and the pickup.

The impact caused the pickup to overturn onto its right side, and the Acura continued to spin and crashed into a white Honda Pilot, driven by Miguel Narez, a 29-year-old from Soledad. Narez had young children in the car with him.

After the crash, all the parties remained on the scene. Narez and his passengers did not report any injuries. Cortez suffered from “abdominal contusions.” The pedestrian replacing the tire succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The CHP said alcohol was a factor in the crash and Sanchez Jr. was arrested.

According to the press statement from the CHP, the individual killed in the incident was  a 77-year-old man from Salinas.