15-year-old ID’d in fatal crash in Fresno. Another teen arrested on manslaughter, DUI charges

A 15-year-old Fresno girl was killed and four others injured in an early morning car crash on East Barstow Avenue on Monday.

A 17-year-old has been arrested Monday on several charges related to the crash, including driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter, police said Monday afternoon.

The Fresno County Coroner identified the victim as Lilyana Romero.

The crash happened just after 1 a.m. just east of North Forth Street near Cedar Avenue. All five people were pinned inside the car when police arrived. Romero appeared lifeless and police rendered aid until emergency personal arrived. She was later later pronounced dead. The other four were transported to Community Regional Medical Center and are expected to survive any injures, police said.

Police received reports that before they arrived, two other people ran from the scene. But officers at that point focused on giving medical aid to those pinned in the vehicle.

During the investigation, one of those two people was identified as the driver of the vehicle and responsible for the crash. Later Monday morning, the 17-year-old was taken into custody and booked into Juvenile Justice Center. He is facing a series of charges.

Police said all seven occupants in the vehicle were students at Fresno Unified schools.

This story was originally published September 20, 2021 at 10:15 AM.