Newport Beach man dies after car crash
Deepa Bharath
NEWPORT BEACH -- A 71-year-old Newport Beach man suffering from heart
disease died early Monday after losing control of his car and crashing
into a street light on Von Karman Avenue, between MacArthur Boulevard and
Birch Street, officials said.
Joseph Stasch was heading southbound on Von Karman at 7:20 a.m. when
his medical condition caused him to lose control of his 1995 Lexus, hit
the west curb of the street and ram into the light pole, Newport Beach
police said.
Stasch was wearing his seat belt and the car’s air bags deployed, but
police and firefighters who tried to revive him on the scene were
unsuccessful.
According to the Orange County coroner’s office, Stasch died of
natural causes and did not suffer traumatic injuries in the collision.
Officials said his medical condition, described as “cardial myopathy,” or
failing of the heart muscles, caused him to lose control of the car.
Stasch, a resident of Newport Beach for 15 years, was actively
involved in “helping the community,” said his wife, Florence Stasch.
He was elected to the Airport Working Group Board of Directors in
October.
Stasch “was an outstanding individual and understood airport issues
very well,” said Tom Naughton, board president.
Stasch was headed to breakfast with Naughton and other board members
when the incident occurred.
“We were wondering why he didn’t show up and were shocked when we
learned about what had happened,” Naughton said. “It’s a terrible loss
for our group and for the community.”
Stasch strongly opposed the expansion of John Wayne Airport and was a
proponent of an airport in El Toro, his wife said.
“He was just so interested in everything going on,” she said. “He was
physically very active, and whatever he did, he gave it all he had.”
Stasch is survived by two children, two stepchildren and five
grandchildren.
He loved Newport Beach because he liked the “feeling of community,”
his wife said.
“He thought it had a small-town feel,” she said. “He loved that.”
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