Driver arrested in crash that killed 18-year-old girl

SAN JOSE >> An 18-year- old man was arrested hours after he is alleged to have crashed a stolen car into a light pole early Sunday, killing a teen girl riding with him and injuring three other underage passengers, according to San Jose police.

Jose Martinez, of San Jose, was taken into custody Sunday evening and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving a stolen vehicle and hit and run. Jail records show he was being held without bail.

The deadly crash was reported around 3:10 a.m. near Story and King roads, police said. According to an initial investigation, a 2013 Honda was eastbound on Story Road “at a high rate” of speed when the car hit a tree and a light pole.

One of the passengers, a teen girl, died at the scene, police said. Three other passengers, also minors, were taken to the hospital. The release of her identity was still pending formal confirmation and notification of her next of kin by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.

One male passenger suffered life-threatening injuries, while another male passenger and another female passenger suffered serious injuries but are expected to recover.

Police say Martinez ran away after the crash, but was located in San Jose later in the day. The Honda was recently reported stolen in Mountain View.

The crash marked the city’s 44th traffic death of the year. Anyone with information for traffic investigators can contact Detective Eliseo Malvido at 408277- 4654.