San Jose: Passenger killed in suspected DUI crash on Highway 101

SAN JOSE —  A man died in a suspected drunken driving crash on Highway 101 early Sunday, and the surviving driver of the car was arrested, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officers were alerted at 3:31 a.m. Sunday to a single-car collision on southbound Highway 101 near San Antonio Street, south of the East Santa Clara Street onramp.

An initial investigation determined that a 19-year-old San Jose man was driving a Mercedes CLS500 and had passed San Antonio Street when he lost control and crashed into the right-hand shoulder of the freeway, the CHP said in a news release.

Another 19-year-old man sitting in the left-rear passenger seat was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car; he suffered major injuries and died at the scene, the CHP said. His name was not publicly released pending his formal identification and notification of his next of kin by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.

The driver and a second male passenger, also 19, suffered minor injuries. The CHP said the driver was arrested and confirmed that “alcohol impairment is suspected to be a factor in this crash.”

Additional details were not released by the CHP. Anyone with information for investigators can contact the CHP San Jose area field office at 408-961-0900.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.