Driver killed and two passengers injured in crash
By SILVIO J. PANTA
An El Centro woman died early today and her two passengers were seriously injured in a car wreck that police suspect may have involved alcohol and drugs.
A half-empty bottle of alcohol and drug paraphernalia were in "plain sight" inside the car driven by 39-year-old Vanessa Henderson who plowed into tree next to an apartment building at 494 Adams Ave., said Sgt. John Seaman.
Henderson, of El Centro, was heading east on Adams Avenue when she inexplicably veered right instead of turning left on the curved roadway in order to avoid hitting the tree, Seaman said.
Witnesses told police that the sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck a curb, spun around before striking the tree with its roof, said Sgt.Jeff Mason in a press release.
Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene of the 5:52 a.m. crash that required a team of firefighters to use the Jaws of Life in freeing the passengers, Mason said.
it is so sad to have lost a life at such a young age. i went to school with vanessa and i am not to sure if i know the other women in the car. but the fact of the matter is,is that life is to short and it took me the hard way to learn that there was a plan for me when i was out there drinking and using drugs. i just believe that we need more people having faith in us when we lose our paths thank god for friends and family. i am so sorry for the families that are having to go through this pain right now i truely pray for you and vanessa you will be missed and to the other women i hope you get better and if no one has told you today that they believe in believe that i truely do. So get better
Posted by: chistina holmes | April 13, 2008 at 07:36 PM