Single-car crash leaves 3 injured

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach fire departments teamed up to rescue

three people after the car they were in went off the road at 19th Street

and Balboa Boulevard nin Newport Beach shortly before noon Wednesday,

officials said.

The driver, Felipe Moreno Bernardino, 20, of Costa Mesa, was seriously

injured and taken by Mercy Air helicopter to Western Medical Center in

Santa Ana.

Police said he is in serious condition but that the injuries are not

life-threatening.

Bernardino was distracted while driving and, instead of making a turn,

went off the embankment, police said.

Firefighters and paramedics found Bernardino trapped in the vehicle at

the bottom of the embankment. Twenty-one firefighters worked to rescue

him.

Two passengers -- one 21, the other 24 -- suffered minor injuries and

were taken to Hoag Hospital. The accident is under investigation.