Evelin Melgoza Killed in West Covina Crash on 10 Freeway near Azusa Avenue
West Covina, California (April 30, 2022) – Authorities said 22-year-old Evelin Salas Melgoza was the woman killed in an early Wednesday morning fiery crash involving a suspected drunk driver in West Covina.
19-year-old Noe L. Manzanarez of Palmdale was arrested following the collision.
Authorities said Melgoza died from the “combined effects of blunt force trauma, inhalation of products of combustion and thermal burns.”
According to the California Highway Patrol, Melgoza died at the scene of the multi-car crash that happened shortly after midnight on eastbound 10 Freeway near Azusa Avenue.
Fatal Fiery DUI Crash on I-10 in West Covina
Investigators established that Melgoza was stopped in the No. 1 lane in her 2019 Nissan Sentra due to heavy traffic. A Rancho Cucamonga man was also stopped in the No. 2 lane in a 2007 Ford F-350.
Manzanarez approached the stopped vehicles at an “unsafe speed for changing traffic conditions” in a 2002 Toyota Camry and slammed into the rear of the Sentra, causing another car to hit the Ford pickup truck.
One of the cars caught fire and became fully engulfed.
Melgoza was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said Manzanarez suffered minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.