Woman Succumbs to Injuries Eight Days After Car Accident

IRVINE —  A Lake Forest woman died Wednesday, more than a week after she had suffered serious injuries from a car accident, police said.

Jennifer Madruga, 56, was critically injured Oct. 2 when, according to witnesses, a driver ran a red light and hit her, Irvine Police Investigator Doug Coffing said.

As Madruga was traveling east on Michelson Drive, she was struck by a car driven by Silvia Salcido, 58, of Fountain Valley, who was headed south on Harvard Avenue, Coffing said.

Salcido broadsided the left side of Madruga’s car, crushing the driver compartment, Coffing said. Both cars were traveling from 40 m.p.h. to 50 m.p.h., slightly over the speed limit, he said.

“When you take a broadside with those types of speeds, there will be major damage to the vehicle, which can result, like in this case, in major injuries,” Coffing said.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts, he added.

Madruga was hospitalized at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana for broken ribs, punctured lungs and internal bleeding. She died at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Salcido suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from UCI Medical Center in Orange.

No citations have been made and the investigation is continuing, Coffing said.