Police Arrest Driver In Death Of Ceres Teen

CERES (CBS13) - Ceres Police have arrested Larry Duke, the driver of a truck that hit a group of four girls earlier this month, killing one.

Duke was charged Friday with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after his full-size Chevy truck slammed into a group of five girls who were crossing the street at the intersection of Darwin Avenue and Fowler Road on February 9, just before 9 a.m.

According to the Ceres Police Department, Duke may have been on methamphetamines when he struck the teens.

The girls, who ranged in age from 13-14, were walking to nearby Mae Hensley Junior High when they were struck.

The charges come following an ongoing investigation into the incident.

Danielle Tarancon, 13, was killed, another girl was airlifted to the UC Davis Medical Center with critical injuries, another was taken to a local hospital for non-critical injuries, and the fourth student, Alexis Deleon, suffered a bump to the leg. The fifth victim apparently suffered minor scrapes when the truck came to a stop after the accident.

"I ain't got no mercy for the driver, man. I want full justice," said Danielle's uncle Steven Prue. "It's my niece man, and she ain't breathin'."

Duke is being held at the Stanislaus County jail. His bail has been set at $100,000.