Coast Highway crash kills two; driver held on charges

Andrew Glazer

NEWPORT BEACH -- Two people were killed early Sunday morning when a

Huntington Beach man lost control of his car and struck a taxi cab on

East Coast Highway, according to a report from Newport Beach police.

Sheriff deputies arrested Rami Salim Naber, 30, on suspicion of vehicular

manslaughter, police officials said.

He remains in sheriff’s custody in stable condition at UCI Medical

Center, a hospital official said.

His passenger, a 32-year-old Anaheim man, was trapped inside the

overturned 1997 BMW M3 and died.

The 60-year-old Huntington Beach taxi driver also died in the accident.

The coroner’s office withheld the victims’ names until their families

could be notified.

Police said that at about 1:30 a.m., Naber -- who was driving westbound

on East Coast Highway, west of Promontory Point Drive -- lost control of

his Mercedes, crossed a raised median into oncoming traffic and struck

the taxi.

He was ejected from his car before it stopped. Newport Beach paramedics

treated him on the scene before rushing him to the hospital.

Although air bags were inflated in both cars, investigators believe

neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

Naber is being held on bail of $50,000, and is scheduled for arraignment

today.