Murrieta Mayor Arrested on Suspicion of DUI After Crash That Injured Four Students

UPDATE: Attorney: Murrieta Mayor Concerned for Students’ Well-Being, Blood Alcohol Was ‘Well Below’ Legal Limit

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Murrieta’s mayor is facing some serious charges Friday, after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in a crash that sent four teens to the hospital.

According to jail records, Mayor Alan Long, 44, was taken into custody about 9:30 p.m. Thursday for alleged DUI resulting in bodily injury. He posted a $50,000 bond Friday morning and was released from the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

Murrieta police Lt. Ron Driscoll says the crash happened near the intersection of Jefferson and Lily avenues around 8:15 p.m., when the full-size truck Long was driving slammed into the back of a passenger vehicle.

“All four occupants were Murrieta Valley High School students and sustained moderate to major injuries,” Driscoll said. “The juveniles were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries.”

Driscoll said both vehicles had been travelling southbound when the collision occurred.

The four high school students in the sedan range in age from 14 to 17 years old, he said. Long was the only person inside the truck.

“[Long] had signs and symptoms consistent with alcohol impairment,” Driscoll said. “[He] participated in some standardized field sobriety tests, and officers determined that the driver was in fact impaired.”

Jail records indicate Long isn’t due in court until Dec. 11.

The mayor, in his first four-year term on the Murrieta City Council, is running for re-election.

He works as a battalion chief for the Anaheim Fire Department.

“At this point, everything is normal and there is no change in his work status,” Anaheim police Lt. Bob Dunn, who handles public affairs for the fire department, told City News Service. “We will be monitoring the investigation.”

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--City News Service contributed to this report.