LODI, Calif., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The driver in a Lodi, Calif., collision that killed five people including a pregnant woman was identified Friday as Ryan Christopher Morales, police said.
Morales, 28, who was reportedly speeding and talking on a cellphone before the crash, was released from prison in September after serving time for running from police on New Year's Day, KXTV-TV, Sacramento, reported.
A 12-year-old boy, a 7-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl, a man in his 30s and a pregnant woman in her 30s were killed at about 5:20 p.m. PDT Tuesday when the pickup truck they were riding in was rammed at an intersection by Morales' sport utility vehicle. A 9-year-old boy in the pickup truck survived the crash. Morales was in surgery Wednesday for his injuries and was under investigation on suspicion of driving under the influence, police told KCRA-TV, Sacramento.
Erin Andrews, who lives near the crash scene, told the TV station she saw the man "flying around a car in the wrong lane" while talking on the phone.
"He was at least 100 mph," she said.
He said the collision involved five vehicles in all.
Lodi police officer Eric Bradley said the intersection of one of the city's busiest during rush hour commutes. It was closed while police investigated and was reopened for the Wednesday morning rush hour.
