ELKTON, Ore. -- A California man was arrested Sunday upon release from the hospital after allegedly being under the influence while driving, resulting in a crash just west of Elkton that killed his passenger.
According to Oregon State Police, Jose Torres, 40, of Van Nuys, California was taken into custody and transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was charged with DUII, manslaughter, assault, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person.
Torres had been airlifted to the hospital on Saturday after he crashed while driving on Highway 38 near milepost 34 around 5:15 p.m., police said. He was reportedly traveling westbound when the car left the roadway, went down an embankment and rolled.
Officials say his passenger, Alfredo Valdez-Perez, 46, was killed.