Pileup compounds morning traffic

Amy Spurgeon and Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- A stretch of the Corona del Mar Freeway was snarled with

early morning traffic Friday after a five-car pileup. There were no

reports of major injuries.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic only got worse when the accident occurred about

8:45 a.m. in the southbound lanes near the Red Hill Avenue overpass.

Commuters who use the Corona del Mar Freeway on a daily basis were

surprised by the traffic jam.

“This never happens,” said 25-year-old Costa Mesa resident Jeff Khreis.

Witnesses said the accident, which caused about a half-hour delay, was

triggered by a stalled vehicle in one of the lanes. A domino effect

occurred after the driver of one vehicle suddenly slammed on the brakes

in an attempt to avoid the stalled car.

The series of collisions was significant enough to injure Rose Martinez,

the driver of the stalled car, and Wanda Peters, whose vehicle first

rear-ended Martinez’s car. Both drivers were taken to Hoag Hospital where

they were treated and released.

The accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.