Man faces DUI charge in crash that killed vacationing Marietta firefighter

Ron Herens, 23, died in the wreck.

Ron Herens, 23, died in the wreck.

Authorities have identified the man accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a Marietta firefighter and injured two others in Los Angeles.

Benjamin Seider, 23, remained at the scene following the crash and was arrested on a DUI charge, Los Angeles police Officer Rosario Herrera told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Firefighter Ron Herens, 23, was on vacation about 10 p.m. Monday when he and two other Marietta firefighters were T-boned at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Washington Boulevard near Marina Del Rey.

Herens, who was buckled up in the back seat, was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene. Firefighters Dillon Guest and Doug Blanchard were taken to UCLA Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Marietta police Officer Brittany Wallace said.

The Associated Press reported one of the surviving firefighters had broken bones and the other sustained deep cuts.

“All the wind is knocked out of us right now,” Marietta fire Chief Jackie Gibbs said during a Tuesday morning news conference outside station No. 51.

California officials said a third car was involved in the crash, but the couple in that vehicle were not hurt.

Witnesses said the suspected DUI driver ran a red light and was going an estimated 80 to 100 mph before the crash, KNBC in Los Angeles reported.

Police have not confirmed those details.

Herens had been with the Marietta department for four years, Gibbs said.

“Ron was always smiling and always had a twinkle in his eye,” he said.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.