Executive Summary
- Salvador Robles Lopez, 31, was arrested following a fatal rollover on SR-138 in Phelan.
- A female passenger died at the scene; two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
- Charges include vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and DUI causing injury.
- The suspect posted $250,000 bail and was released pending a court date.
PHELAN, Calif. — A 31-year-old Lancaster motorist faces felony charges, including vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, following a single-vehicle rollover collision on State Route 138 that resulted in the death of a female passenger early Saturday morning.
According to a report from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Victorville Area Office, the incident occurred at approximately 2:59 a.m. on January 24, 2026, near the intersection of State Route 138 and State Route 2 in an unincorporated section of San Bernardino County. Investigators determined that the driver, identified as Salvador Robles Lopez, was operating a silver Honda HR-V westbound at an undetermined speed when the vehicle veered to the right. The Honda subsequently struck a metal guardrail and overturned.
Emergency response teams arrived at the scene and located a female passenger within the vehicle, who was pronounced deceased. The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office has not yet released her identity. Two additional passengers in the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
CHP officers arrested Robles Lopez at the scene. He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center on charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, DUI causing bodily injury, and DUI with a blood alcohol content over 0.08 causing bodily injury. Investigators explicitly noted that alcohol is suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash. Records indicate that Robles Lopez was released from custody later that evening after posting $250,000 bail.
Judicial and Investigative Outlook
The filing of charges under California Penal Code 192(c)(1) suggests that authorities believe the driver exhibited gross negligence, a legal standard that implies a disregard for human life and carries significantly heavier sentencing guidelines than ordinary negligence. As the CHP Victorville Area Office continues its investigation, the focus will likely remain on toxicology results and crash reconstruction to solidify the prosecution’s case. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
