Costa Mesa resident is held in fatal crash

A 37-year-old Costa Mesa man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his friend in a car crash in San Bernardino County over the weekend, California Highway Patrol officials said Tuesday.

Edward Richard Nigro, the vehicle’s driver, was arrested hours after he rolled his off-road truck in the Calico Dry Lake bed, near Barstow.

The rolling truck ejected Andrew McKenzie, 26, of Costa Mesa, CHP officials said. The truck rolled onto McKenzie and killed him, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.

CHP officials say Nigro was drunk.

Officer Taj Johnson said Nigro ran away after the crash. He was arrested about three hours later by Bureau of Land Management park rangers at a nearby campsite.

Nigro was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence, and causing great bodily injury.

He is being held in San Bernardino County Jail in lieu of $25,000.

— Joseph Serna