From Yuba County District Attorney

April 6, – A Yuba County jury found Neng Yang, 57, guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He drove his vehicle into a flooded section of Highway 70, where his car became submerged. Yang swam to safety but his girlfriend was trapped in the car and drowned, with her seat belt still fastened. He is facing up to 10 years at sentencing.

OLIVEHURST (CBS13) — Authorities have arrested the man suspected of driving past a road closure and into a flooded area, resulting in the death of his passenger.

California Highway Patrol says 55-year-old Neng Yang of Sacramento was arrested for felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

On Saturday around 7:15 p.m., CHP says Yang was travelling northbound on Highway 70 south of McGowan Parkway in Yuba County. CHP and Caltrans had set up a road closure on Highway 70, diverting traffic onto the McGowan Parkway exit due to flooding in the area, and Yang drove around the closure and into the flood waters.

The vehicle became submerged in 6-8 feet of flood waters. Yang was able to exit the Toyota, but the woman passenger was unable to escape and sustained fatal injuries.

Yang has been booked into the Yuba County jail and CHP says the investigation is ongoing.  Yang is scheduled to appear in court on Monday at 3 p.m.

Authorities have identified the woman as 51-year-old Chia Xiong from Marysville.