Ryan Carter
BURBANK -- A South Gate man was arrested on suspicion of drunken
driving following a two-vehicle collision on the Golden State (5) Freeway
that injured five people early Sunday morning, police said.
Jorge Zuniga, 22, was arrested by officers of the California Highway
Patrol as he lay on his hospital bed after being transported by ambulance
to Glendale Memorial Hospital after suffering a broken clavicle, torn ear
and facial cuts, said CHP Sgt. Paul Gouailhardou.
Five people in all were injured early Sunday morning when the two cars
collided on the Golden State (5) Freeway, near Alameda Avenue in Burbank,
authorities said.
The accident occurred when a four-door Honda and a Ford Mustang,
driven by Zuniga, were both headed southbound on the freeway and collided
into one another around 2:22 a.m., said Burbank Fire Marshal Dave Starr.
The Mustang passengers, who reportedly were wearing seat belts, were
possibly ejected before the car, fully engulfed in flames, veered over
the freeway's embankment, Starr said.
Traveling in Zuniga's car was Javier Rodriguez, 23, from Bell. He
suffered three broken ribs and was taken to Glendale Memorial Hospital.
Maselino Paulo, 21, from Los Angeles suffered a fractured neck and was
transported to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.
Angelina Delallata, 26, from Pico Rivera, who was driving the Honda,
was treated at the scene for a sprained ankle and pain to her back and
neck. Delallata's passenger, Elouise Lopez, 33, from El Monte was also
treated at the scene and released.
