DUI Suspect Only Survivor Of Crash That Killed 3 On I-80
GRANITE BAY (CBS13) – Three people – including two teens – died instantly after police say a drunk, wrong-way driver hit them head-on on Interstate 80 early Saturday morning.
The suspect was the only one who survived.
Two of the victims – Kendra Langham and Mathew Beardwitt, both 18 – worked at a Taco Bell in Granite Bay. The store manager says they were both outstanding employees and the team is in disbelief that they lost these two.
"They were great employees, they were great kids," said store manager Nancy Fernandez. "This is, like, my family. These kids are like my family."
She still can't believe that two of her young employees are gone.
"They're my kids. I spend 40 hours a week with them," Fernandez said.
The two teens, along with their friend Matt Azar, were killed in a wrong way crash Saturday morning.
Matt was 20.
"We're really in shock," Fernandez said.
Police say Aaron Jordan Caudillo crashed into the teen's car while driving the wrong way on I-80 near Madison Avenue.
The 24-year-old was allegedly driving drunk.
"These kids, they didn't deserve this. And I keep saying this over and over … they did not deserve to have this happen," Fernandez said.
Langham and Beardwitt were both known for being amazing employees, Fernandez said. She says Langham was her first employee of the month – always willing to help, and always coming in with an upbeat attitude.
"Bubbly, perky. Always that happy person," Fernandez said.
She says the news of their deaths has rocked their branch.
"Everyone here is really going to miss them."
The owner of the Granite Bay Taco Bell where the teens worked is planning on donating money to the advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Fernandez says.
Caudillo was still in the hospital as of Saturday night and investigators won't allow doctors to release his condition.
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