Man killed in 5-car crash on 405 Freeway

A five-car chain-reaction crash on the 405 Freeway in Irvine on Monday evening killed one man and injured three other drivers, authorities said.

A 52-year-old Mission Viejo resident was driving a Ford Windstar south near Von Karman Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. when he looked away from the stopped traffic in front of him, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol.

When the man looked back, he was unable to avoid hitting a Toyota Prius, which then rammed a Volkswagen Passat ahead of it, the CHP said.

The Passat, in turn, was pushed into the back of a Chevrolet Trailblazer, which rear-ended a Nissan Pathfinder, the CHP said.

The Prius’ driver, a 34-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita man, was pronounced dead at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Authorities did not identify him because his family had not been notified.

The drivers of the Windstar, Passat and Trailblazer were taken to Hoag Hospital in Irvine for treatment of minor injuries, the CHP said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck