Coroner IDs South Bay Victim In Fiery Crash

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The Santa Cruz County Coroner has identified the woman killed early Wednesday in a crash on a Highway 1 offramp.

Alyssa Roman, 19, of San Jose was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at Morrissey Boulevard. She was extricated from the car along with one other person, the California Highway Patrol said. A third passenger was able to exit the car on his own before the car caught fire.

The driver, Richard A. Quihuis Jr., 19, of San Jose, ran down the highway after the crash but was stopped by a CHP officer and taken to Dominican Hospital with minor injuries, the CHP said in a statement. He was then arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony hit-and-run, felony evading an officer and possession of a controlled substance. Quihuis remained in custody in Santa Cruz Main Jail.

Read more: South Bay Woman Dies In Pursuit, Fiery Crash In Santa Cruz