Driver Held After 2 Men Are Killed in Collision

Two men delivering the New York Times were killed early Sunday when their car was broadsided at an intersection by a suspected drunk driver who earlier had evaded a California Highway Patrol cruiser, police said.

Killed instantly in the 1:40 a.m. crash were William R. Hagerman, 58, of Irvine and his passenger Tan Van Nguyen, 52, of Westminster, authorities said. Hagerman on Saturday had celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary.

Michael Edward Nelson, 31, of Costa Mesa was arrested on suspicion of two counts of vehicular manslaughter, felony drunk driving and evading arrest, and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the city jail, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Larry Miller.

Nelson, who was slightly injured, had been tailed by CHP officers from the San Diego Freeway to south Huntington Beach, where they lost sight of him, Miller said.

The CHP cruiser was chasing Nelson, “but they lost him,” Miller said. “It started as a chase but was not a chase at the time of the accident.”

CHP officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

The CHP began its pursuit of Nelson on the San Diego Freeway, where he was reportedly seen weaving in traffic lanes, Miller said. Nelson left the freeway southbound on Beach Boulevard.

CHP officers reported losing sight of the vehicle at Newland Street and Atlanta Avenue, Miller said, and asked for the help of a Huntington Beach police helicopter in finding the fleeing suspect.

A few minutes later, the aircraft spotted the crash scene at Magnolia Street and Hamilton Avenue in the city’s south end.

“Our preliminary investigation indicates high speed [also] was a factor in the accident,” Miller said.

Nelson was heading east on Hamilton Avenue when he struck the vehicle driven by Hagerman. The intersection has a traffic light, Miller said. The crash is under investigation.

Nelson lived alone in a large apartment complex in Costa Mesa.

Hagerman was a part-time supervisor with the company that delivers the New York Times to home subscribers, said Stephen Johnson, a co-worker. Hagerman supervised carriers in the area from Long Beach to Irvine for Publishers’ Circulation, Johnson said.

Hagerman was training Nguyen on a route that began in Santa Ana when the pair were killed, he said.

Johnson described Hagerman “as a dedicated person” who was an avid sailor and race-car fan.

Hagerman’s family said he was a doting grandfather of three and father of two, an avid jazz fan and an Eagle Scout. The couple had celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary Saturday, said Patricia Hagerman.

“It is a very sad thing that we have this problem in our society,” she said, referring to the drunk driving arrest of Nelson. “I feel very sorry for [Nguyen’s] family.”

Patricia Hagerman said her husband was a real estate broker who also volunteered at HOME, an agency that raises money to help mentally ill people buy homes.

“He was a very caring person,” said his son Mitchell. “All he wanted was to be with his family and friends. It’s really sad.”

In addition to his wife and son, Hagerman is survived by a daughter, Laurie, of San Diego.

Nguyen’s relatives could not be reached Sunday.