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Pomona Man Killed, Driver Arrested In Rancho Cucamonga Street Race

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Authorities arrested a driver and were looking for a second suspect Thursday involved in a deadly street race in Rancho Cucamonga.

Emergency personnel responded to a traffic collision Wednesday shortly after 4:15 p.m. at the intersection of Rochester Avenue and Jersey Boulevard, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Nick Clark.

Investigators say witnesses saw two black Ford Mustangs - including one driven by a 16-year-old boy - racing southbound on Rochester from Arrow Route, Clark said.

Pomona resident Julio Lopez, 46, was driving a 2010 Nissan Altima east on Jersey when he entered the intersection and was hit on the driver's side by the Mustang, "causing major intrusion into the passenger compartment of the Nissan," according to Clark.

Lopez was treated at the scene and died as a result of his injuries at a local hospital, police said.

Three people were believed to be in the suspect's vehicle, including one passenger who may have been recording the race, according to investigators.

The driver of the Mustang which allegedly caused the crash was arrested Thursday, according to CBS2/KCAL9's Tom Wait.

Investigators also want to know whether this was in fact a street racing incident, which the suspect and his passengers will not confirm.

Witnesses at a stop sign where the race allegedly started say they saw drivers starting the race, according to Wait.

Deputies are looking for the driver of the second Ford Mustang that was racing the juvenile as a possible person of interest. The vehicle is described as a 2000–2003 black Ford Mustang with a hood scoop.

The driver was possibly a black male in his early twenties wearing a backward hat, police said.

Anyone with information regarding the vehicle or driver is urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department.

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