A San Diego County man was involved in a Fresno-area freeway crash that fatally injured a woman riding in his car over the Presidents’ Day weekend, authorities reported Tuesday.
Adrian Rodriguez-Chavira of Chula Vista was behind the wheel of a southbound 2019 Honda Accord that veered off Interstate 5 south of state Route 41 for unknown reasons and plunged into the California Aqueduct shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Rodriguez-Chavira was able to exit the vehicle and swim to edge of the canal, but his 24-year-old passenger remained inside as it filled with water and sank, the CHP said.
Emergency crews, including a team of divers, eventually recovered the body of the woman, whose name was withheld pending family notification.
Rodriguez-Chavira, who suffered minor injuries in the wreck, declined medical assistance.
Intoxication was not believed to have been a factor in the accident, according to the CHP.
