MURRIETA (CNS) – Two of three teenagers fatally injured when a 21-year-old woman who was allegedly driving under the influence crashed her car alongside Interstate 215 in Murrieta, triggering a fire, were identified today.
Angel Chavez, 15, of Hemet and Aniyah Edwards, 17, of Menifee died about 4 a.m. Monday on the southbound I-215 connector to southbound Interstate 15, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Another teen, identified only as a 15-year-old El Cajon girl, also perished, but coroner’s officials Tuesday were awaiting verification of records before releasing her name.
Alexia Rodriguez, 21, of El Cajon allegedly caused the deadly wreck.
Officer Mike Lassig said that Rodriguez was at the wheel of  2008 Dodge Charger traveling at an unknown speed in moderate rain when she “lost control … causing the Dodge to travel off of the west roadway edge.”
“The Dodge collided with a metal pole (and) became engulfed in flames,” Lassig said. “Two passengers, one male and one female, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the vehicle.”
Both were pronounced dead at the scene by Murrieta Fire & Rescue personnel, who knocked down the blaze within 10 minutes.
Lassig said that Rodriguez managed to self-extricate herself before the fire spread throughout her car. However, the last of her three passengers, the 15-year-old girl, died inside the Dodge.
Rodriguez suffered serious burns and was initially taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment, but later airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Burn Center for acute care.
The CHP spokesman alleged that she was confirmed to be inebriated, and the agency will seek multiple charges of felony gross vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI against her.
The suspect is technically under arrest, even though she’s hospitalized.
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