The California Highway Patrol is investigating a traffic accident that claimed the life of a 51-year old Calexico man.
The accident was reported shortly after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday on eastbound Interstate 8 east of Dogwood Road. According to the CHP two men were assisting the driver of a 2016 Ford on the right shoulder of the freeway. An eastbound car driven by 34-year old Alphonso Valdez , III. of El Centro hit the driver's side door of the Ford and then hit Gildardo A. Banuelos of Calexico and the other man who had been assisting the driver of the Ford. Valdez and Banuelos were both taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center for treatment. Valdez suffered minor injuries while Banuelos sustained major internal injuries and was transferred to Desert Regional Medical Center's Trauma facility. The victim who died has been identified as Rafael Gonzales , 51 . of Calexico. Valdez III was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and manslaughter. The collision remains under investigation.