Motorist killed by suspected drunk driver going over 120 mph

A woman was killed on the San Bernardino Freeway today after her car was rear-ended by a suspected drunk driver believed to have been traveling at more than 120 miles per hour, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 2:42 a.m. on the eastbound 10 Freeway, just east of Santa Anita Avenue and west of Peck Road in El Monte, said California Highway Patrol Officer Krystal Carter.

The suspect, Thomas Vanauken, 43, of Anaheim, was driving a 2009 Acura MDX, Carter said.

"Witnesses indicated that he was driving more than 120 miles per hour," Carter said.

Vanauken’s car allegedly struck a 1994 Mitsubishi driven by a 42-year-old Ontario woman, who has not been identified. Police said she was observing the speed limit.

When traffic slowed, Vanauken‘s Acura slammed into the rear of the Mitsubishi, Carter said. The Acura continued east into the carpool lane, hit the center divider and landed on its roof, she said.

The female motorist sustained severe injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Carter said. Her two female passengers, ages 32 and 35, sustained minor to moderate injuries.

Vanauken, who was alone, had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, Carter said. According to authorities, his blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. He faces charges including gross vehicular manslaughter,  driving while intoxicated and causing the death of another, Carter said.

-- Ann M. Simmons

Comments

[Minuteman1]

Put this punk to death! He murdered an innocent person with his recklessness! Rest In Peace, Woman who was killed....

Why do these drunks always kill and kill yet they're only charged with "manslaughter"? It's rediculous. They murder these poor unsuspecting people...

[Luis Dublin]

IT IS AN UTTER SHAME that adults cannot act responsibly after drinking. Sadly, I see this type of behaivior all to often in Southern California. An innocent woman's life was taken from her because some person decided to use the freeway as a personal racetrack.

ALL OF OUR DECISIONS AFFECT OTHERS. Think before drinking.

[jenn]

This really ticks me off. Here we have yet another innocent victim dead thanks to the stupidity of a drunk driver. My thoughts and prayers are with this woman and her family. Why is it the drunk drivers are never the one's to die in these accidents?

[m b]

I hope this DUI driver dies in jail.

[JRG]

Great Christmas. Hope this driver rots in jail and realizes every day what he has done.

[Los Angeles Paralegal]

Our prisons are full, our state is bankrupt, therefore I respectfully suggest roadside summary judgment followed by execution at the scene of the crime.

[Vixen]

There has been enough education out there about the consequences of drinking and driving. If you drink, get behind the wheel and kill someone, it should be premeditated murder. If you drink, get behind the wheel and injure someone, it should be attempted murder. And they should be sentenced accordingly. I'm so sick of these people getting light sentences when they kill some innocent victim and devastate families.

[PC BS]

Why do drunk drivers so often survive collisions that kill others?

Relaxed muscles allow their bodies to roll with the impact, like jello?

[Nirav V. Patel]

So sad. ;(

[Pat]

Vehicles are lethal weapons. They kill and maim people. How about sending anyone who drives under influence of alcohol or drugs to work taking care of people who, due to being hit by car, are unable to care for themselves. Perhaps unable to walk or wipe themselves. Unable to feed themselves. Unable to work or support their families. DUIs seem to be taken lightly by celebrities and the young people who emulate them. Are they ready to help the children who are left orphans after losing parents to the selfish stupidity of people who drink or use drugs and drive?

[Gene Venable]

A person travelling 120 miles an hour on a freeway during a non-emergency who kills someone should be tried for murder. The differential between that speed and a normal speed is so great that an accident caused by running into a car is likely. It's like firing a gun into a crowd -- the person firing the gun didn't intend to kill any specific person but was quite content that some random person or persons would be killed. That is murder.

[mike]

Remind me again why this stuff is legal and cannabis is a crime. The law's broke, it needs to be fixed yesterday.

[davidozone]

Why are cars even made to go that fast?I tell you why to line the pockets of insurance companys & courthouses.With the technology we have,and the thousands of dollars paid for these modern vehicles,that we should have sensor equipment to determine and overide the driver.Car going double the limit sensors determine traffic,slowage,or stoppage and slow vehicle down approbrietly.Why not go all out and mandate all new automobiles be equiped with random breathaliezers.Hech anything to lower our skyrocketing rates.

[danceralamode]

Explain to me why driving under the influence is not murder? Who does not know that getting behind the wheel is dangerous to themselves and others? As dangerous as pointing a gun at someone? Getting behind the wheel intoxicated is clearly an intent to harm others and we should start treating it as such. If there were real consequences, besides just the slap on the wrist license suspension and possible 2 years in jail (average sentencing for manslaughter), I truly believe we'd see less sad stories like this.

My condolences and sympathies to the victim's and their families in this terrible situation during the holiday season.

[Eric Elias]

This article and many other similar stories (Nick Adenhart) prove that it is impossible to drink responsibly. Alcohol is a drug and must be monitored directly by the FDA; if not, then alcohol must be outlawed.

[Lorie]

How is this NOT a murder charge? You could not be more intent to kill as when you're driving drunk at 120 mph.

[Otis]

And marijuana is still the "gateway drug."

[My Next Car]

09 MDX, huh. Never thought of that as the world's safest car, but this just put it on my shopping list!

The weird thing is that the driver in the Mitsu dies, but both passengers, one of whom must have been in the seat were checked in and walked out. I know of no recent Mitsu, car or small truck, which has a 3-person bench front seat. The fact that both vehicles contained survivors says a lot about how much cars have improved since the downsized deathtraps of the '80s and early '90s.

LAT - not to be morbid, but for people who want to know which cars are safer, not just what NHTSA or IIHS says, how about publishing photos of the vehicles and who was sitting where in each?

[Schigolch]

I think the technology is there to end this kind of driving. When you combine satellite imaging with the already-installed freeway cameras and the already-installed sensors in the pavement with direct observation from law enforcement vehicles and helicopters, it should be possible to redlight vehicles that are going over 100 mph and light them up on law enforcement communications systems. It's time to move forward on this.

[Nick]

THE GOV NEEDS TO BAN ALCOHOL. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DRUG THAT CAUSES DEATH, VIOLENCE AND AFFECTS INNOCENT PEOPLE.

[Andres]

"THE GOV NEEDS TO BAN ALCOHOL. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DRUG THAT CAUSES DEATH, VIOLENCE AND AFFECTS INNOCENT PEOPLE"

What the goverment need's to do is Tax the living daylight out of anything that contains an alcohol reading.

That will push out the teenagers, because they can't afford it, and drunk's like this guy that took an inncent life would be repromanded to at least think twice when their alcohol is coming out to be a months paycheck.That's what europe does with gasoline, 15.00 per gallon, that's why people don't drive that often over there. Makes them think twice.

[JoeMomma]

Nick, we all learned during the prohibition era that you can't just ban alcohol. If you haven't learned this in school, i suggest you go back. Also, it's a nice idea Schigolch but remember, this state is broke and that kind of technology is expensive. Although maybe it could create a few more jobs...

[Ramon]

The Gov't did ban alcohol remember? It was called prohibition, that eventually did'nt last very long.

My heart go out to the victims, and the suspects families.

[concerned]

death penalty

[LW]

Regarding Nick's comment about banning alcohol. Well, why don't we can extend the ban that to texting, talking, eating and sleepiness while driving. I was rear ended by someone while I was stopped at a red light. The driver was distracted and didn't realize she was coming upon a major intersection that had a red light. Fortunately, I was not severely injured but 5 other cars were also hit due to the impact. I applaud Schigolch's comment about using technology.