19-Year-Old Man Arrested In DUI Crash That Killed 18-Year-Old Girl In Orange County

WESTMINSTER, CA — A 19-year-old Orange County man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter in connection with a Westminster crash that left one 18-year-old dead and two other minors injured.

According to police, Jayson Otto was driving a vehicle carrying three passengers when it crashed into concrete barricades at Westminster Boulevard and Rancho Road on Dec. 6, 2022, according to a Saturday news release from the Westminster Police Department.

Passenger Jayda Jean Feeney, an 18-year-old from Huntington Beach, died at the scene. Two other passengers — aged 16 and 17 — received medical attention, police said.

Drugs or alcohol are thought to have caused the crash, authorities said.

According to police, an extensive investigation allowed them to get an arrest warrant for Otto. He was contacted at his home and arrested without incident on Thursday, June 22.

According to the Orange County Register, Otto posted in bond and was released from jail on Saturday. It was not immediately clear when he was next due in court.

A GoFundMe page set up for Feeney wrote that she was a senior in high school and had celebrated her 18th birthday less than a month before the crash.

"Jayda’s eyes have always twinkled with a fiery, relentless sparkle that engaged all that she met. Beautiful, inside and out, Jayda Jean touched all who’s presence she graced," the GoFundMe read. "A loving big sister, a thoughtful daughter who always made mom her favorite cupcakes for her Birthday. So loved in so many ways and so needed.