16-year-old boy from Atascadero dies in apparent DUI crash on Highway 41
A 16-year-old boy from Atascadero was killed and the driver arrested Saturday in a suspected DUI crash on Highway 41, according to the CHP.
Shortly before noon, a 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara driven by Orion Messina, 19, of Atascadero was traveling southbound on the highway south of Bear Ridge Road when the vehicle hydroplaned as Messina entered a righthand curve, the CHP said in a news release.
The Suzuki collided with the hillside, which caused it to rotate and overturn. The teen passenger, who was in the right front seat and not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car and suffered fatal injuries.
Messina, who said he was traveling about 55 mph at the time of the crash, was uninjured.
“Preliminary investigation indicates alcohol was a factor in this collision,” the CHP said.
The identity of the 16-year-old is being withheld bending notification of next of kin.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the CHP San Luis Obispo office at 805-594-8700.
This story was originally published December 10, 2022 at 5:13 PM.
