SAN JOSE — A suspected DUI driver was arrested after causing a deadly multicar crash Friday, with police saying the wreck capped a sequence that began with him fleeing a hit-and-run moments earlier.
The fatal collision was reported at 11:56 a.m. at Story Road and Lucretia Avenue, in the city’s Little Saigon business district.
A San Jose police investigation determined that a silver 2016 Chevrolet sedan driven by 56-year-old Emilio Guel was “traveling at a high rate of speed” headed east on Story Road and hit an eastbound green 2000 Honda sedan that had stopped for traffic.
Police said the impact sent both vehicles into another car, a white 2019 Mercedes sedan, that had also been stopped in the lanes. At some point Guel was reportedly trying to drive out of the wreck when he hit a passing black 2025 Toyota sedan.
Guel tried to flee the scene, police said, but was taken into custody by responding officers.
An 81-year-old San Jose man, who was driving the Honda that police say Guel initially hit, died at the site, police said. His name was not publicly released pending his formal identification and notification of his next of kin by the county Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.
A passenger riding in the victim’s car was taken to a hospital with serious injuries but was expected to survive. Occupants in the other cars involved in the crashes were not injured.
Police said Guel was speeding toward the eventual crash site in part to flee a hit-and-run crash he was involved in moments earlier, about two blocks west near Remillard Court.
Guel was booked into the Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of manslaughter, felony DUI and felony hit-and-run.
The Friday crash marked the city’s 15th roadway death of the year. At the same point in 2025, nine traffic deaths had been recorded in San Jose, according to data compiled by this news organization.
Anyone with information for investigators can contact the SJPD traffic investigations unit at 408-277-4654 or email Detective Tori DelliCarpini at 4103@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.