Man who allegedly tried to drive through flooded river crossing arrested in passenger's death: Sheriff
The passenger was found dead a mile downstream, authorities said.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter after authorities in California say he attempted to drive through floodwaters and his passenger got swept away and died.
The incident occurred Tuesday in San Benito County, when two men in a Toyota Camry attempted to cross a flooded river crossing at Tres Pinos Creek, according to authorities.
Police and fire personnel who responded to a 911 call for help found the vehicle with no one inside, according to the San Benito County Sheriff's Office. The two men had exited the submerged vehicle and got separated in the moving floodwaters, according to the sheriff's office.
The alleged driver -- identified by the San Benito County Sheriff's Office as Ramon Meza-Sesma -- ended up walking to a ranch the following morning to get help to find his friend, prompting a larger-scale response, according to authorities.
The passenger, Wiliam Cesar Colaj Son, was ultimately found dead a mile downstream on Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office.
Meza-Sesma was treated at a local hospital, where he provided a statement to investigators, and has since been released, according to the sheriff's office.
"This statement, combined with further evidence obtained during the investigation, led to Meza-Sesma being placed under arrest for gross vehicular manslaughter," the San Benito County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on Thursday.
The sheriff's office did not elaborate on Meza-Sesma's statement or the additional evidence in the case.
It is not clear if Meza-Sesma has an attorney.
The incident followed a strong rainstorm event that pummeled the state earlier this week.
A road sign near Tres Pinos Creek warns drivers, "When flooded turn around don't drown," authorities noted.
"This tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by fast-moving water," the sheriff's office said. "We urge the public to avoid attempting to cross flooded roadways and rivers, especially following periods of heavy rainfall."
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