Last Updated on November 13, 2018 by CCAR Staff
The man sheriff’s authorities said was under the influence when he slammed into a car full of friends in Jurupa Valley, killing all four last month, has been released from the hospital and placed under arrest, Riverside County sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
George Ponce was released from Riverside Community Hospital Friday, Nov. 9, and was immediately arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Authorities said the Ponce, 30, of Jurupa Valley appeared to be intoxicated the night on Oct. 23 when he crashed into another vehicle at Van Buren Boulevard and 56th Street. All four occupants in the second vehicle — Daniel Smith, 20, Marco Aguilar, 23, Clinton Jellsey, 25, and Nicholas Cahill, 20 — died at the scene.
Sean Cahill, Nicholas’ father, said his son, Smith and Aguilar went to pick up Jellsey from Ontario International Airport because Jellsey’s father was recovering from surgery and was unable to.
The four men were on their way back from the airport when the crash happened.
Investigators said Ponce was heading north on Van Buren Boulevard and attempted to make a left turn onto 56th Street when he lost control, officials said. Ponce’s vehicle crossed into the southbound lanes colliding into the friends’ vehicle. Two other vehicles were damaged while trying to avoid the collision.
Linda Cahill, Nicholas’ mother, said she was taken aback to find out about the arrest from a news report.
“We are extremely grateful that he was immediately arrested as soon as physically possible,” she said. “Nothing will bring Nicholas or the other boys back. Our greatest hope now is that the District Attorney’s office is able to do their absolute best that justice is served for all four boys who were so tragically killed in this accident.”
Ponce is scheduled to be in court Thursday, Nov. 15.
Linda Cahill said she and Alicia Haro, Daniel Smith’s mother, have reached out to the District Attorney’s office to inquire whether they would be allowed to attend the arraignment.
