Seven hurt in Coast Highway pileup

-- Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Seven people escaped with minor injuries after a

four-car pileup Saturday night on East Coast Highway, officials said

Monday.

The accident occurred at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday on the westbound

lanes of East Coast Highway between Seaward Road and Poppy Street south

of Corona del Mar, said Lt. John Blauer of the Newport Beach Fire

Department.

“None of the injuries were life threatening,” Blauer said. “So we

treated them on the spot and later transported them to the hospitals.”

Two of the victims were taken to Hoag Hospital and two to South Coast

Community Hospital. Two others were taken to Western Medical Center in

Santa Ana and another was transported to Fountain Valley Hospital. Police

did not release the names of victims Monday.

Although the accident was cleared from the road after an hour, three

westbound lanes on Coast Highway were closed, Blauer said.

Investigators believe the accident was caused by a woman who “blacked

out as she was driving,” said Sgt. Mike McDermott of the Newport Beach

Police Department. She was taken by officers for psychological

evaluation, he said.

It was a rare incident for the area, said Blauer.

“We don’t usually come across an accident that involves this many

vehicles and so many people,” he said.