CHP: Wet road, speed causes I-8 fatal crash

A single vehicle accident along Interstate 8 Friday afternoon that killed one person and injured three others was the result of driving too fast and a wet roadway, according to California Highway Patrol officials.

A 2001 Toyota being driven by 40-year-old Juan Aguirre-Alvarez, of Imperial, Calif., was traveling westbound on Interstate 8 near Ogilby Road at about 4 p.m. when the vehicle spun out and flipped into the median.

"We believe he was driving at an unsafe speed and lost control of the vehicle due to the rainy roadway conditions," said Officer Mark Pearce of the California Highway Patrol. "We know the vehicle rolled at least once because it came to rest on its wheels again."

One of the passengers in the vehicle, 65-year-old Enrique Valdez Sauceda, of Mexicali was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Pearce.

Aguirre-Alvarez and passengers Oscar Guzman, 32, of Calexico, and Juan Enrique Huerta, 29, of Brawley, were all transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by Rural/Metro ambulance.

"The other individuals were transported to the hospital with complaints of pain and minor scrapes," Pearce said.

Pearce stressed the importance of wearing seat belts, noting that the only individual who died in the accident was the person who wasn't wearing one at the time.

"It is imperative that you wear your safety belt," Pearce said. "It saves lives."

While the accident is still under investigation, Pearce added that it was determined that alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the incident.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

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To view slideshow of crash scene click here.