Passenger Killed In Crash Of Party Bus Near Portola Valley
PORTOLA VALLEY (CBS SF) - The California Highway Patrol arrested the driver of a party van that was involved in a deadly crash on northbound Interstate 280 near Portola Valley Sunday night.
Jason Quinonez, 43, was identified as the driver of a converted black Chevrolet Express 3500 traveling north on Highway 280 that went off the roadway and struck a tree south of Alpine Road around 10:50 p.m., CHP Officer Amelia Jack said.
CHP Investigates Fatal Accident Involving Party Bus
"The impact with the tree kind of sheared off the right side of the bus. The vehicle then came to rest just on the little embankment about 20 ft. off the freeway," CHP spokesman Art Montiel told KCBS.
"The right front passenger of this vehicle was pronounced (dead) at the scene. The driver had already fled the scene by the time CHP arrived. There was a gentleman that was located later on, just in the vicinity."
Quinonez was found near the scene with minor injuries and it was initially not clear that he was the driver, according to the CHP.
He was taken to Stanford Hospital for minor lacerations and later booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of felony hit and run, DUI and manslaughter, Jack said.
The CHP has yet to confirm the company that owns the vehicle, she said.
The crash remains under investigation. Initial reports indicated that a second vehicle had been involved, but Jack said that was not the case.
Traffic was blocked on northbound 280 for hours after the accident. The roadway was completely cleared shortly after 4:30 a.m. Monday.
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