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CHP identifies Paso Robles woman killed in early-morning ATV crash near Harmony

The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI
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Posted at 8:39 AM, Dec 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-23 10:38:04-05

UPDATE: The CHP has identified the passenger killed as Tanya Corrine Hendry, 34.
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ORIGINAL STORY: A Paso Robles woman died in an early-morning ATV crash near Harmony.

According to the California Highway Patrol, it happened shortly before 4 a.m. Monday on the beach west of Alapay Way.

The woman was among four campers on the ATV that CHP says was heading in a southerly direction, away from the camp, when the Can-Am went over a steep cliff and landed on its wheels in the water near the shoreline.

The driver, identified as Maria Arayza, 35, from Los Angeles, and two other passengers from Long Beach and Germany were reportedly able to get back up to land and notify the person who had rented the ATV about what had happened.

CHP says that person went down to the crash site and extricated the fourth passenger. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency crews. Her name has not yet been released.

Officers say Arayza was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and faces charges that include gross vehicular manslaughter.

Her injuries were described as moderate.

The other two surviving passengers' injuries were described as minor.

CHP says everyone was wearing a seatbelt but none were wearing helmets.