Woman, 61, dies following head-on crash in H.B.; teen suspected of DUI

A 61-year-old woman was killed when an SUV crashed head-on into the car in which she was a passenger in Huntington Beach, according to authorities.

The teenage driver of the SUV was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, causing injury, police said.

The crash happened at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday on Gothard Street near Center Avenue, said Huntington Beach police Sgt. Eric Warken.

A 2013 Nissan Rogue driven by a 17-year-old boy from Westminster was traveling north in the southbound lanes on Gothard and crashed head-on into a 2016 Kia Soul, causing major damage to both vehicles, Warken said.

Susan Palmer of Huntington Beach, who was in the backseat of the Soul, suffered major internal injuries, authorities said. Paramedics took her to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver and front-seat passenger in the Soul complained of pain, Warken said. The driver of the Rogue suffered minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call police Investigator Daniel Kim at (714) 536-5666 or Investigator Adam Turner at (714) 536-5670.

Daily Pilot staff writer Julia Sclafani contributed to this report.

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