2 Dead In Early Morning East EP Rollover

EL PASO COUNTY – Two people were killed early Friday morning crash in a rollover crash.

It happened around 3:45 a.m. on Gateway West, between Horizon Blvd. and Eastlake Dr.

Deputies say a Ford Explorer was traveling on the gateway when it was struck by a heavy-duty white pickup truck towing a horse trailer. Officials say the impact sent the Explorer airborne, ultimately coming to rest on its side, some500 feet from impact.

The driver of the Explorer, who has been identified as John Richard Deririco, 42,was thrown 50 feet from the vehicleand died at the scene, sheriff’s spokesman Rick Glancey said.

Officialssaythat the Explorer landed on top of the passenger, killing him. That victim has yet to be identified, pending notification of next of kin. Officials say bothpeople in the SUV werewearing their seatbelts.

Emergency crews treated the driver of the pickup, Kevin Willis, of Oakland, Calif.,wasarrested on two charges of intoxicated manslaughter, Glancey said.His injuries were not considered life-threatening.