Man killed after driver falls asleep A...

Man killed after driver falls asleep

A Torrance man died Sunday after a 30-year-old Newport Beach

resident reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the Newport

Boulevard median in his SUV and broadsided the victim’s Mazda Miata.

The 11:55 a.m. accident happened just south of 17th Street next to

the El Nido and Snug Harbor mobile home parks. The 43-year-old

victim, whose name was withheld until his next of kin could be

notified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested Jon Yip

on vehicular manslaughter charges, Costa Mesa Police Cpl. Joe

Poelstra said.

Yip was driving south on Newport Boulevard in a black Nissan

Pathfinder when he fell asleep at the wheel and crossed into

northbound traffic, Poelstra said.

Yip’s vehicle reportedly hit a black Infiniti FX45, driven by a

30-year-old Las Vegas woman, causing minor to moderate damage to the

vehicle, then broadsided the Torrance man’s Miata, which then hit a

city tree, knocking it over, Poelstra said.

The Pathfinder finally stopped after hitting a different tree,

Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Larry Hicks said, but Yip suffered no

injuries.

Civilian clothes work for firefighter

An off-duty firefighter extinguished an engulfed golf cart in a

high-rise office building Saturday.

Newport Beach Fire Capt. Steve Bunting was delivering office

equipment to the building at 400 Newport Center Drive with his wife,

who works there.

While leaving the building at 5:44 p.m., Bunting heard a loud

noise coming from the cafe near the lobby. Upon investigation, he saw

that a golf cart was on fire, said Donna Boston, Newport Beach Fire

Department public information officer.

Bunting called the fire department dispatch and broke the safety

glass that encased the building’s fire hose. He put the fire out

himself in six minutes, Boston said.

Firefighters believe the golf cart’s charging unit malfunctioned,

causing the blaze.

“It’s absolutely wonderful that he was able to take quick action,”

Boston said.

No one was hurt and the building sustained about $15,000 in

damages, along with $5,000 in damages to the golf cart and charging

unit.