Michael Mason flipped truck 20 times while DUI into construction zone; killed Ashley & Christopher Austin
Ashely & Christopher Austin killed in DUI crash
A mother who allowed her two children to join her in riding with an impaired driver paid for her decision with her life and that of one of her children. The DUI driver survived, as did one child. The driver, Michael Mason, is now in jail facing charges.
CORONA – (INT) – A Claremont motorist could face murder charges in the wake of a weekend DUI freeway mishap in Corona that killed two of his passengers.
The California Highway Patrol said Monday that Michael Mason, 58, drove into a construction zone on Interstate 15 causing his SUV to overturn coming to rest upside down in a stack of lumber. One witness told the CHP the vehicle may have violently flipped as many as 20 times.
Killed were two of Mason’s three passengers, a 27-year-old Ashley Austin, and 6-year-old Christopher Austin. A 9-year-old girl survived. They were from Canyon Lake.
Mason was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on an assortment of charges.
From The Friday Flyer:
According to information received, CHP officers and other emergency first responders rushed to the location, where firefighters and paramedics provided life-saving efforts to Ashley and Christopher Austin. Ashley, who was in the right front passenger seat, and Christopher, who was seated in the right rear seat, both succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Paramedics also provided Mason and Abigail medical treatment for their injuries. Abigail, who had been seated in the back left side of the truck, was transported to Riverside County Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment for her minor injuries. Mason was transported to Riverside Community Hospital and treated for moderate injuries.
When he was medically cleared, he was arrested. Jail records reveal Mason was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for five felony charges related to the fatal accident. His charges included gross vehicular manslaughter, murder with malice, willful harm to a child, driving under the influence and felony DUI causing injury. He is being held without bail…..MORE
