More Details Emerge After Fiery Irvine Crash Kills 5 Teens
IRVINE (CBSLA.com) — More details have emerged two days after a fiery crash claimed five lives and seriously injured a sixth teenager in Irvine.
The California Highway Patrol said Monday that it had not determined whether drugs or alcohol had played a factor in causing the crash early Saturday morning.
"We have not taken any samples at this point. We have some early evidence that was collected but we don't have any analysis on the evidence that was collected," said CHP Assistant Chief John Antillon. "That's why I said it is yet to be determined if alcohol or drugs were involved."
Further, it remained unclear how the driver, identified as Bradley Morales, 16, gained access to the vehicle designed to hold five occupants, not six.
Officials say investigators will secure a search warrant to obtain blood tests from Mission Hospital, where Morales is recovering from a head injury.
Meanwhile, the victims were identified by friends and family as Jennifer Campos, Jennifer Bahena, Alex Sotelo, Matthew Melo and Brandon Moreno.
The group was returning from Knott's Scary Farm.
Campos' sister said Jennifer was supposed to be home at midnight, while the accident occurred about 2 a.m.
"I wish I could have said goodbye to her. The last time I saw her was at 7 p.m. and I just told her, you know, 'Have fun. Be with your friends. Be safe,' " Elizabeth Luna, the victim's sister, told KCAL9's Michele Gile.
The CHP has further revealed that the driver, who was unlicensed, was in a BMW registered to an unnamed family member. The CHP is investigating whether the boy was given the keys or took the car without permission.
Adrianna Ortiz, a Capistrano High School student, knew the four boys. She told Gile that Morales had told her he had a learner's permit, which the CHP denies.
"Everyone thought he did, so I'm guessing he did," Ortiz said.
She further said Morales had earned money to buy the car recently. The CHP did confirm that a change of ownership was filed over the summer.
Grief counselors were spread out throughout south Orange County to assist loved ones of the teens, who were very involved in the soccer and water polo communities.
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