CHOWCHILLA – Last Friday evening at approximately 8:40 pm, officers from the Chowchilla Police Department responded to a report of a traffic collision at North 5th Street/Ventura Avenue. Upon arrival, officers observed two vehicles involved in a motor vehicle collision, a Chevy truck and a Suzuki Forenza.

Several of the subjects in the Suzuki sustained moderate to severe injuries. One of the passengers, a female juvenile, later succumbed to the injuries she sustained from the traffic collision.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the driver of the Chevy truck was driving while intoxicated. The driver of the Chevy truck was identified as Marcos Torres (24) from Chowchilla. He was booked into Madera County Department of Corrections on charges of felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He has since bailed out of jail on a $100,000 bond.

The victim has been identified as 15-year-old Jaycee Willet.  At the time of the crash, Jaycee was in the back passenger seat of a car. Four other friends were also inside the vehicle inclosing Jaycee’s boyfriend who is in critical condition at a local hospital.  A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night at the scene of the incident.

BVN tried to reach the suspect at his home in the 2100 block of Madison Court in Chowchilla, but there was no response at the front door.

If anyone has any further information please contact the Chowchilla Police Department at (559) 665-8600.