UPDATE: Drugs Blamed In Fatal Ortega Highway Crash

The teen driver , killing his friend, was allegedly under the influence of drugs, prosecutors said.

Francisco Jesus Ochoa, 18, of Lake Elsinore, is being charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and an infraction for failing to maintain liability insurance, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The announcement came three days after the accident that killed Margarita Gutierrez, also of Lake Elsinore.

If convicted, Ochoa faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and eight months in state prison. He is still undergoing treatment at Mission Hospital for a broken leg.

Ochoa was westbound on Ortega when prosecutors say he swerved and weaved across the two-lane highway for several miles, crossing back and forth onto the wrong side of the road and onto the dirt shoulders on either side.

At about 6:45 a.m., Ochoa veered off the road without slowing down and crashed directly into a tree. Gutierrez was crushed in her seat and pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors allege Ochoa was under the influence of prescription drugs and was carrying six Vicodin pills at the time of the crash. He did not have a prescription for the Vicodin, prosecutors said.

Ochoa will be charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and an infraction for failing to maintain liability insurance.

A D.A. spokeswoman said prosecutors would request $100,000 bail at Ochoa's arraignment, which has not yet been scheduled.