Alleged DUI driver in fatal Sunnyvale crash arrested

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (KGO) -- A deadly ditch accident in the South Bay shut down a freeway off-ramp Friday morning.

The CHP says the alleged DUI driver is San Jose resident Edwardo Jaime Jr., the relative of a 30-year-old woman who was killed in the crash. Officials say the the 34-year-old has been arrested and he may face felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges.

The CHP says the first call about the crash came in just before 2 a.m. Friday. Officials say the vehicle was travelling northbound on Highway 101 in Sunnyvale and exited on Lawrence Expressway, hit the curve too fast, and flipped over into a ditch.

"When we showed up we had some people outside the car and some people still trapped and one female partially ejected," said CHP Sgt. Bret Kwarta. "We tried to extricate them and were unable until the fire department showed up."

Three other passengers, identified as Roxane Jamie, 23; Jamie Garcia, 44; and Jeff Hushaw, 25, all of San Jose, were transported to hospitals for various injuries ranging from minor to serious, including cuts and a broken arm.

Investigators say the passengers and driver were not wearing their seatbelts.

The CHP says the smell of alcohol from all the occupants was overwhelming.

"It appears that the surviving female just celebrated her 23rd birthday," said Sgt. Kwarta. "Based on how they were dressed we're assuming they were coming from some birthday celebration."

The CHP says two of the victims were taken to Stanford Hospital and the other two to Valley Medical Center.

A Sig-alert was issued at 3:01 a.m. and the northbound Highway 101 off- ramp to Lawrence Expressway was closed until about 6:40 a.m., according to the CHP.

(Bay City News contributed to this report)