UPDATE from the Richmond Police Department:
Richmond Police investigators have arrested and charged a man with driving under the influence in connection with a fatal crash this morning.
At approximately 12:37 a.m. today, an officer witnessed a crash at the intersection of 2nd and Canal streets. Based on the Department's Crash Team investigation, they determined that Varinder Chahal, 23, of Springfield, was driving a 2004 Mazda 6 westbound on Canal Street when he ran a red light.
His vehicle T-boned a 2007 Toyota Yaris traveling northbound on 2nd Street. The Yaris then spun around and struck a nearby building. A back seat passenger in the Yaris, Carolina Perez, 19, of Virginia Beach, was taken to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and died a few hours later.
The 19-year-old driver of the Yaris and 20-year-old front seat passenger were also admitted to VCU Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Chahal has been charged with driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a blood or breath test and felony manslaughter. Four other passengers in his vehicle were not injured.
RICHMOND - A 19-year-old woman is dead following a two-vehicle crash early Wednesday morning, and police believe alcohol played a role in the wreck.
Investigators say a driver was speeding westbound on E. Canal Street, and ran a red light at the intersection of Canal and S. 2nd Street around 12:30 a.m. The car crashed into the side of a second vehicle.
The passenger in the backseat of the vehicle that was struck was rushed to VCU Medical Center, but died of her injuries at the hospital. Her identity has not yet been released. No other life-threatening injuries are reported.
Richmond Police say the driver who caused the wreck is in custody, and charges are pending.
Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
Varinder Chahal
Carolina Perez
