Three teenage boys were killed and three others injured after a California man intentionally slammed into their vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and strike a tree Saturday evening, the California Highway Patrol said.
Anurag Chandra, 42, has been charged with multiple counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon according to Riverside County Jail records. Chandra is currently being held without bail.
The incident began just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, when an Infiniti crashed into the teens' Toyota Prius, forcing the driver to lose control and slam into a tree at Temescal Canyon Road and Trilogy Parkway, near Corona, California, the California Highway Patrol said in a statement. The driver of the Infinity fled the scene.
When rescue crews from Riverside County Fire responded to the scene, they discovered three of the six teens were still trapped inside the car and began working to extricate them. One victim was declared dead at the scene, while the other five were rushed to local hospitals. Two others later died while receiving treatment for their injuries. Three other teenagers who were inside the Prius are expected to survive their injuries, the CHP said.
The victims were out celebrating one of the boy's birthday and were reportedly playing "ding-dong-ditch" when Chandra answered the door and began to give chase after the teenagers.
“When he came out and got in his car to chase after them, they fled for their lives basically,” Debbie Ruiz, one of the victim's mom told CBS 2.
Chandra allegedly chased after the teens in his Infiniti until he caught up with them and rammed his vehicle into theirs, before leaving the scene. CHP officers were able to catch up to Chandra and arrest him about a half-mile from the scene after a witnessed followed him to his home.
"The witness basically followed that vehicle as he fled the scene into a nearby residence,” CHP Officer Juan Quintero said at a news conference Monday afternoon. "The witness then came back and relayed that information to our officers."
Drugs or alcohol are not believed to be involved in the collision.
Photo: Riverside County Sheriff's Office