Three Killed, Driver Arrested Thursday in Head-On Collision in Madera County

AUGUST 24, 2009 – Three women tragically died when a suspected drunk driver crossed into opposing lanes and crashed head-on into their vehicle north of Fresno, authorities said. The victims were identified as 39-year-old Estella Frias, 38-year-old Elena Mendoza and 36-year-old Maria Flores-Rodriguez, all of Madera, according to the Madera County Coroner. They were traveling north on Highway 41 about 2:20 p.m. when a southbound pickup truck driven by 32-year-old Justin Eugene Rice of Ventura crossed into oncoming traffic near the 22-Mile House, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Department. In addition to the three women who were killed, two other women in the car were injured. Rice was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter and booked into Madera County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Rice was arrested by Ventura police in May for allegedly ramming his vehicle into a car driven by his mother and occupied by his 5-year-old son. Rice was attempting to run his mother off the road in an effort to take custody of his son, police said. The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the fatal car accident.

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