Two still in critical condition after crash

Two people remained in critical condition Tuesday following a two-car crash on Hospital Road in Newport Beach, police said.

Authorities said one person was thrown from one of the vehicles during the crash at Newport Boulevard and Hospital Road about 8:17 a.m. Monday.

Two people suffered major trauma and were taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, one of Orange County’s three trauma centers. Newport Beach-area patients who suffer critical injuries are often taken to trauma centers instead of nearby hospitals like Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian because trauma centers are staffed to perform any of a number of complicated surgeries at a moment’s notice.

A third person in Monday’s crash suffered minor injuries and was taken to Hoag Hospital. More than 18 firefighters and paramedics responded to what was initially reported as a mass-casualty incident.

—Joseph Serna