Huntington Beach teen killed by DUI driver Jaime Xahuentit Palacios 062715. Photo courtesy KTLA

Huntington Beach  Police report arrest of DUI driver in death of teen

Traffic Collision Newland Street and Adams Avenue:

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. — According to police on June 25th, at about 7:35 PM, a citizen called 911 to report they were following a possible drunk driver in a gold pick-up truck. The citizen lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Newland Street and Slater Avenue. Several Huntington Beach Police Department officers quickly responded in an attempt to find the vehicle and stop it.

A few moments later police say that they received a report of a major injury traffic collision involving three vehicles at the intersection of Newland Street and Adams Avenue. Arriving officers located a black 2006 GMC Yukon, a silver 2000 Nissan Frontier, and a silver 2004 Toyota Tacoma near the intersection.

The driver of the black GMC, a 39 year old male from Huntington Beach, was uninjured. The driver of the silver Nissan, a 39 year old male from Santa Ana, had minor injuries and was transported to Hoag Hospital for treatment. The silver Toyota had major damage to the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver, an 18 year old male from Huntington Beach, was taking his two cousins, ages 18 and 14, home after eating dinner with family members. The 14 year old, a resident of Trabuco Canyon, was trapped in the vehicle.

Officers tried to force open the doors to get the boy out but were unsuccessful.

Huntington Beach Fire Department paramedics used heavy rescue equipment to free the critically injured 14 year old. He was transported to Huntington Beach Hospital in critical condition. The 18 year old driver was transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana for moderate injuries. The 18 year old passenger was transported to UCI Medical Center with minor injuries.

The mother and other family members of the 14 year old boy were told of the collision and responded to the scene before going to the hospital. Despite a timely medical response, the 14 year old boy succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His name is not being released until the remaining family members can be notified.

The driver of the silver Nissan Frontier, Jaime Xahuentit Palacios, a 39 year old resident of Santa Ana, was ultimately arrested on suspicion of felony DUI resulting in death as well as driving while unlicensed. The Nissan Frontier is believed to be related to the original drunk driver call.

Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears the silver Nissan was traveling southbound on Newland Street. when it collided with the silver Toyota which was traveling northbound on Newland Street. After the initial collision, the silver Toyota collided with a light pole while the silver Nissan collided with the black GMC Yukon which was stopped in the westbound lanes of Adams Avenue.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the HBPD Major Incident Reconstruction Team (M.I.R.T). Investigators would like to speak to anyone who might have seen the events leading up to and including the collision.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Huntington Beach Police Accident Investigator Robert Barr at 714-536-5666 or Accident Investigator Josh Page at 714-536-5670. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 714-960-8825.