Published: June 9, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Pomona, CA) – A passenger was killed and a driver was injured Sunday, June 7, 2026, after a car struck a tree on Santa Clara Drive in Pomona, and the driver was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police.
Police said a black Subaru WRX was heading north on Santa Clara Drive when the driver lost control and hit a tree. Investigators reported that part of the Subaru broke away in the impact and struck a gray Chevrolet Traverse. No one inside the SUV was hurt, according to a police statement.
The collision took place near Santa Clara Drive and Calle Del Mar and was reported to authorities at about 7 p.m., police said. Officers found the Subaru's driver outside the vehicle, and he appeared disoriented, according to the department.
A rear passenger, described only as a 37-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and died at the scene, police said. The medical examiner's office had not yet released his identity. The driver, a 47-year-old Covina man, was transported to a hospital, according to police.
Police said the driver acknowledged drinking before getting behind the wheel and took a voluntary preliminary breath test that showed a blood-alcohol level above 0.08 percent. He was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury, police said, and was being held in lieu of $225,000 bail as of Monday, June 8.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Santa Clara Drive Collision
When a passenger dies in a crash involving a suspected impaired driver, civil investigators generally look at the same physical evidence that informs the criminal case but apply a different standard. Under Civil Code section 1714(a), a person may be financially responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care. Whether that standard is met here would depend on facts that have not yet been established and remain subject to investigation.
California also recognizes negligence per se. Under Evidence Code section 669, a failure to use due care may be presumed when someone violates a statute designed to prevent the type of harm that occurred, and the injured person belongs to the class the statute protects. If evidence ultimately shows a driving-under-the-influence violation contributed to a death, that framework could become relevant in a related civil matter. Penal Code section 192(c), which defines vehicular manslaughter, may also bear on how a parallel criminal proceeding is evaluated, though a criminal charge is an accusation and not a finding.
Where speed or vehicle control is examined, investigators sometimes consider the Basic Speed Law under Vehicle Code section 22350, which requires a driver to travel at a speed that is reasonable for the conditions. How any of these principles might apply would turn entirely on the completed investigation, and nothing here should be read as a conclusion about fault.
For a fatal crash, California law also provides avenues for the decedent's family. A survival action under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 allows certain claims that belonged to the person who died to pass to a successor in interest, while a wrongful death action under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 may be available to a surviving spouse, children, or other eligible heirs. Damages in such matters are measured under Civil Code section 3333, and any allocation of non-economic damages would be governed by Civil Code section 1431.2.
What Families and Survivors Can Do
In the aftermath of a fatal collision, families can request a copy of the official police report, keep records of medical care and related expenses, and preserve evidence such as photographs and vehicle information before it is lost. California law sets deadlines that matter: drivers involved in an injury or fatal crash generally must file reports under Vehicle Code section 20008 and Vehicle Code section 16000, and personal injury and wrongful death claims are subject to the two-year limitations period in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Because these timelines and the available claims can be complex after a death, families often benefit from speaking with an attorney early. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A Pomona Car Accident Lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. GNEWS_CA_COLLISION – 1 killed in suspected DUI crash in Pomona, driver arrested: https://www.dailybulletin.com/2026/06/08/1-killed-in-suspected-dui-crash-in-pomona-driver-arrested/
