Authorities have identified the victim of a suspected DUI crash involving two vehicles that happened in Long Beach last week.
The Orange County Register reported on their website that the accident happened in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 18th at approximately 2:40 a.m. when Osvaldo Ramirez-Vasquez was driving his 1999 Lincoln Town Car eastbound on the Pacific Coast Highway at an excessive rate of speed. Ramirez-Vasquez lost control of his vehicle near Grand Avenue. The Lincoln Town Car entered a left rotating spin and struck the passenger door of a westbound 2014 Cadillac XTS.
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Marilyn Araiza, 21 of Cypress was a passenger in Ramirez-Vasquez’ vehicle and was trapped inside of the Lincoln. Firefighters had to extricate her from the vehicle, and she was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. Araiza died a short time later at the hospital as a result of the injuries she suffered in the crash. The Orange County Coroner’s Office initially withheld Araiza’s identity pending notification of her family.
Also injured in the crash was the 49-year-old male driver of the Cadillac. Firefighters also had to cut the Garden Grove resident from the wreckage of his vehicle. He was also taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The initial investigation performed by Long Beach Police officers at the scene determined that Ramirez-Vasquez had been operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter.
On Tuesday, August 20th Ramirez-Vasquez appeared before the court and pleaded not guilty to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of causing great bodily harm or death. Vasquez-Ramirez is due to appear before the court again later this week.
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