AZ Drunk illegal kills teen

Gilbert band member killed in crash on way to parade

Suspect held; police say he was impaired
by Lindsey Collom and Beth Duckett - Nov. 16, 2008 12:00 AMThe Arizona Republic

Mesa police say an impaired driver triggered a crash early Saturday that killed a 16-year-old girl and injured her 17-year-old brother as they drove to a school-band event.
Manuel Contreras-Galdean, 32, was arrested and booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of manslaughter and aggravated assault.
Authorities also placed an immigration hold on him after it was determined that he was in the country illegally.
Police said Contreras-Galdean was at the wheel of a red Dodge Ram about 6:30 a.m. when he turned left in front of a Nissan Sentra carrying the teens.
Their collision occurred at Guadalupe and Sossaman roads, according to Sgt. Ed Wessing, a Mesa police spokesman.
The teenage girl suffered massive head trauma. Her brother, the driver, had non-life-threatening injuries.
Police declined to identify the siblings, who were on their way to perform in the Gilbert Days Parade. Band members and parents confirmed the pair were students at Highland High School.
Jay Thompson, whose daughter Lauren is a freshman in the band, said he and his wife, Francy, arrived at the school on Saturday morning to volunteer.
"There was just shock and grief and sadness . . . it was just horrible," Thompson said. "We just all cried and hugged."
Band officials pulled out of the parade.
Mesa police said the girl died in the operating room.
Hayden Horsman, a freshman band member, said students were devastated.
"They were amazed that something could happen to somebody our age," said Horsman, 14.