16-year-old arrested, 2nd driver sought in fatal street-racing crash in Rancho Cucamonga

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (KABC) -- Rancho Cucamonga police arrested a 16-year-old boy and are now searching for a second driver in connection to a street-racing crash that left a 46-year-old man dead.

Emergency personnel responded to a collision involving two vehicles at the intersection of Rochester Court and Jersey Boulevard at about 4:17 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Two black Ford Mustangs were racing southbound on Rochester Avenue from Arrow Route, according to witnesses, when a 2010 silver Nissan Altima pulled out into the intersection, attempted to make a left turn and was struck by the speeding vehicle driven by the 16-year-old boy. The impact pushed the two cars down the street and up a sidewalk, nearly missing a street light pole.

The boy stopped after the crash, but the driver of the second Ford Mustang, whom the boy was racing, fled the scene.

The driver of the Nissan Altima was transported to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. He was identified as Julio C. Lopez, 46, of Pomona.

Lopez's sister, Adriana Guaracha, says her brother was on her way home.

"He just had a great moral compass and he always knew what to say, and he always knew what to do and right now more than ever, I wish that we had him here," Guaracha said.

The victim's family plans to hold a vigil at 7 p.m. Friday at the crash site.

On Thursday, the 16-year-old suspect was arrested on vehicular manslaughter charges. Sheriff's deputies are now searching for the driver of the second Ford Mustang, possibly a 2000-2003 model with a hood scoop. The driver was described as a black male in his early 20s. He was last seen wearing a backward hat.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation or the outstanding suspect was asked to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department at (909) 477-2800.