Car accident kills Orange resident

Deirdre Newman

Despite efforts to save her, an 82-year-old Orange woman suffered

severe lower-body injuries and died after she was extracted from her

car and hospitalized Thursday afternoon, police said.

The collision occurred on Newport Boulevard, just past Arlington

Drive, about 12:30 p.m.

Jeanne Poirier was removed from her Toyota Corolla and taken to

Western Medical Center in Santa Ana with two broken ankles and a

possible broken hip after she was pinned between the floorboard and

the dashboard, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Dave Andersen said.

The crash happened when Poirier allegedly ran the stop sign on

Arlington and made a right-hand turn onto Newport, where it parallels

the Costa Mesa Freeway, Andersen said. A Cadillac traveling

southbound on Newport at about 45 mph broadsided the Corolla. The

intersection of Arlington and Newport at this location is tricky

because the stop sign is after Arlington curves around onto the

frontage road, Andersen said.

The Cadillac’s driver and passenger, who did not disclose their

names, walked away from their car.

The left side of the Corolla suffered major damage, while the

Cadillac suffered damage mostly to its front end. It’s front right

tire was smashed perpendicular to the other tires.

Poirier’s three passengers, which included her grandson and two

young adults, were not severely injured but were taken to the

hospital as a precaution, Andersen said.