An 18-year-old has been booked for manslaughter and aggravated assault following a single-vehicle collision in Queen Creek over the weekend that left one teen dead and three others injured.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said Ezana Tessema was the driver of the vehicle and he has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail. Speeding and impairment are being investigated as factors in the crash, authorities said.
The crash occurred at Rittenhouse and Riggs roads shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, when the vehicle “mis-negotiated a curve,” crossed into opposing lanes of traffic and hit a brick wall and electrical equipment, authorities said. The electrical equipment caught fire and spread to the vehicle.
Caleb Rodriguez, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene and a 17-year-old girl has been hospitalized in critical condition.
Two other teen-aged passengers had non life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
