ROANOKE, Va. – UPDATE
Friends and family gathered for a solemn candlelight vigil in Roanoke, mourning the loss of 19-year-old Amarani Gomez and 18-year-old Mariangela Duenas.
They were killed by a suspected drunk driver late Friday night.
Hundreds gathered near the scene of the collision, the intersection of Cove Road and Danbury Drive Northwest, on Sunday night.
They released pink and red balloons into the sky as a way to honor two young people gone too soon. Two other teens were injured in the crash.
A man is behind bars in connection with the case. Forty-eight-year-old Reynaldo Diovanis Hinojosa Mayan faces two counts of DUI manslaughter and one count of DUI.
More charges could be pending.
ORIGINAL STORY
A man was arrested for DUI Manslaughter after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Northwest Roanoke on Friday night, Roanoke Police Department said.
RPD said they responded to reports of a crash at the intersection of Cove Road and Dansbury Drive Northwest around 11:39 p.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, officers found a Jeep Wrangler that had collided head-on with a Chevrolet Cruze.
Authorities found four occupants in the Chevrolet. The front passenger, 19-year-old Amarani Amaya Gomez, died at the scene. One of the backseat passengers, 18-year-old Mariangela Duenas, was taken to a hospital where she later died as a result of her injuries. The other back seat passenger is a 17-year-old boy who is, as of May 31, in critical condition. The driver, a 19-year-old man, only sustained minor injuries.
Upon investigation, RPD found the driver of the Jeep, identified as 48-year-old Reynaldo Diovanis Hinojosa Mayan, had a blood alcohol content over twice the limit. He was arrested and charged with two counts of DUI Manslaughter and one count of DUI.
Investigators said they found that the Jeep had crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, and the Chevrolet attempted to avoid the collision. The Jeep then attempted to change lanes, returned to the correct side of the road, and the two vehicles collided.
We will update you with more information as it becomes available.