Police: Driver might have had medical emergency just before Park Avenue crashes

The man responsible for a multiple-car collision along Park Avenue Wednesday might have suffered a medical emergency before the incident, Laguna Beach police reported Thursday.

Three people were hospitalized, including two Laguna Beach Unified School District employees, and two others were treated and released at the scene after a Lexus SUV crashed into three vehicles, Capt. Jason Kravetz clarified in an email. Police originally reported five people were hospitalized.

Assistant Supt. of Instructional Services Darlene Messinger and Human Resources and Communications Director Leisa Winston had non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released from the hospital Wednesday, Supt. Sherine Smith wrote in an email.

“We are grateful their injuries are not life-threatening and they will return to work soon,” Smith said.

The collisions began about 11:38 a.m. where Park Avenue meets Third Street, Kravetz said.

It appears that a Lexus SUV was traveling west on Park Avenue at high speed when it rear-ended a Toyota Solara, he said.

The Lexus continued westbound and rear-ended another Lexus SUV and then struck a Toyota pickup, Kravetz said.

Police did not release the driver’s age or city of residence and have not made any arrests. The Lexus driver also was hospitalized, Kravetz added.

No pedestrians were involved and a portion of Park Avenue between Reed and Through streets was closed until crews could clear the cars from the area.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce