Driver intentionally rammed car with 6 boys in Temescal Valley, killing 3, CHP says
Three teenage boys were killed and three others injured in a late Sunday night crash in Temescal Valley south of Corona when a driver intentionally rammed their Toyota Prius, the California Highway Patrol said on Monday.
Anurag Chandra, 42, of Corona was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, said CHP Lt. David Yokley at a press conference.
“It was an intentional act, “ Yokley said. “Our investigation led us to believe Mr. Chandra intentionally rammed the Prius, causing the driver to lose control.”
The suspect car, a white Infiniti sedan with front-end damage, was found parked on Mojeska Summit Road less than a mile from the crash site, and the arrest was made in that neighborhood, the CHP said.
Officers were led to the suspect by witnesses, said Juan Quintero, an officer and CHP spokesman. One witness told officers another vehicle was involved in the crash, and a second who had followed the car told officers where it was parked, Quintero added.
At the press conference, at the CHP’s Temescal Valley station house, Yokley thanked the witnesses for their help.
Originally, the case was one involving hit and run.
“The investigation has now changed from a hit-run collision to homicide,” the lieutenant said.
Asked if the six teens in the Prius knew the Infiniti driver was targeting them, Yokley said, “It appears so, yes.”
Officers don’t know if road rage was involved, Yokley said.
“We really don’t know,” he said. “Obviously, there was some sort of contact. We are looking into those exact same questions, of whether or not he was known to the victims.”
The initial call at 10:23 p.m. was for a Toyota Prius that struck a tree at Temescal Canyon Road and Trilogy Parkway, with the six teens in the car, Quintero said.
When the CHP arrived, three were standing outside the car.
The other three were trapped inside, and Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters pried their way into the car to get them out. One was pronounced dead at the scene, and two others died at a hospital.
The teen driver was of legal age to be behind the wheel, Quintero said.
The three who were injured were expected to survive.
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