Suspect in Crash that Killed Trabucco Teen Arrested Amid Plans to Flee, Police Say

A 39-year-old man charged with a drunken driving crash that killed a 14-year-old boy in Huntington Beach was behind bars today after police say they caught him before they suspected he would flee to Mexico.

Jaime Xahuentitla Palacios was arrested on a warrant charging him gross vehicular manslaughter, among other felonies, at his job in Newport Beach, according to Huntington Beach police Officer Jennifer Marlatt. In jail records, the defendant’s occupation is listed as cook.

Palacios is accused of leaving the scene of a three-vehicle crash June 25 that killed Ethan McEnally of Trabuco Canyon and hurt several others, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker.

Before the collision, a witness called police about 7:35 p.m. that night to report they were trailing a possible drunk driver in a pickup truck, but then they lost sight of him, according to police Sgt. David Dereszynski.

Moments later came the call of the pileup at Newland Street and Adams Avenue involving a 2006 GMC Yukon, a 2000 Nissan Frontier and a 2004 Toyota Tacoma, Dereszynski said.

Ethan -- who had to be cut out of the vehicle -- was in the Toyota with two teen relatives, including the vehicle’s 18-year-old driver. They were headed home after eating out with family.

The Nissan was southbound on Newland when it collided with the Toyota, which was northbound on Newland, Dereszynski said.

The Toyota then slammed into a light pole while the Nissan crashed into the Yukon, which was stationary in the westbound lanes of Adams Avenue.

Palacios’ blood-alcohol level was measured at .22, Walker alleged.

Palacios also was charged with three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and three counts of driving with a blood- alcohol level above the legal limit causing injury. He also faces multiple sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily harm to the victims.

Palacios was arrested at the scene of the crash, but he posted $100,000 bail and was freed, Marlatt said. Investigators received information that the defendant was planning to flee to Mexico, prompting the arrest warrant, Walker said.

Palacios is now being held on $500,000 bail in Orange County Jail.

City News Service

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