Passenger dies, driver suspected of DUI after vehicle slams into tree in Whittier

A woman riding in a car died after it slammed into a tree in Whittier early Sunday, Nov. 24, and police suspect the man behind the wheel of the vehicle may have been intoxicated.

The crash that claimed the life of Mireya Rivera Avila, 23, of South El Monte took place about 5:10 a.m. on southbound Colima Road, just north of Mar Vista Street, Whittier Police Lt. Dominic Iraldo said.

A compact coupe allegedly travelling well above the road’s 45 mph speed limit collided with a tree near the parking lot of the Arroyo Pescadero Trail.

It’s unclear why Avila was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange after the crash, but that is where she died about 90 minutes later, the Orange County coroner’s office reported.

The diver involved in the collision was also hospitalized and expected to survive his injuries, Iraldo said. His booking on suspicion of driving under the influence was pending his recovery at a hospital, and his identity was not immediately released.

Further details regarding the collision were not available Sunday evening.

City News Service contributed to this report.