New Charges in Temecula Crash
In the aftermath of a crash that killed five people during a Border Patrol chase last Tuesday in Temecula, a 23-year-old San Ysidro man was arraigned Monday in Los Angeles federal court on felony charges of smuggling immigrants.
The toll from the crash--in which four high school students and a parent died--grew to six with the death Sunday at Riverside General Hospital of a 16-year-old occupant of the alleged smuggling vehicle. Prosecutors say they will add that to the murder charges against the driver of the car, also 16.
The Riverside County coroner’s office said the latest victim remains unidentified.
The man accused of smuggling was identified by federal authorities as Eddie Uriquiza Rodriguez, who was ordered held without bail by U.S. Magistrate Rupert Groh Jr. in U.S. District Court.
He was transferred Monday morning from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego to the Los Angeles courthouse where the case will be heard.
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