Charges issued after collisions Two Laguna Beach...

Charges issued after collisions

Two Laguna Beach residents were arrested on suspicion of felony

charges on the same day last week after allegedly causing injuries in

unrelated crashes. Both men were arrested on Sept. 16, and both

incidents included collisions on Laguna Canyon Road.

In the earlier incident, James Franklin Spring, 44, was arrested

on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and possession of

a controlled substance after he reportedly crashed into a telephone

pole at about 2:19 p.m. in the 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Road,

Sgt. Jason Kravetz said. The force of the impact caused Spring’s

Mercedes E-320 to roll over, and the car was seriously damaged. A

passenger, Thomas Zucchero, 44, suffered a concussion and multiple

lacerations on his head and body.

Spring told police he momentarily took his eyes off the road

before colliding into the pole, Kravetz said. Police found

methamphetamine in Spring’s shoe and believe he was under the

influence of drugs. Zucchero, who was treated at Mission Hospital,

was arrested on warrants and taken to Orange County Jail after being

released from the hospital.

The second incident involved a series of collisions that happened

at about 4:24 p.m. Police first responded to a call that a Ford

Expedition hit a BMW that was parked by the city employee parking

lot, on Laguna Canyon Road near Forest Avenue, police said. The BMW

is owned by police. Sgt. Louise Callus.

The crash sheared the right front tire from the SUV but the

driver, 52-year-old Laguna Beach resident David Daniel Rivadeneyra,

was able to continue driving north on Laguna Canyon Road, before

causing another crash Kravetz said.

“He just plowed into the back of the last car, setting up a chain

reaction accident,” Kravetz said.

Rivadeneyra rear-ended a 2002 Volvo S-40, injuring the driver,

42-year-old Laguna Beach resident Lisa Genesta, Kravetz said. Genesta

was treated at Mission Hospital for a broken jawbone, extensive

whiplash and mild concussion. The Volvo in turn hit a 2002 Ford

Taurus and a 2001 Mercedes S-55, no one in the last two cars was

hurt.

Rivadeneyra was treated for bleeding on the brain at Mission

Hospital, though his injuries were very minor, Kravetz said. He was

arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run and felony driving under the

influence. Police believe he was drinking heavily before the crashes.

“He appeared to be very intoxicated,” Kravetz said.

Police investigate alleged rape report

Police are investigating a report that a woman was raped by a man

she met at a local club.

The alleged victim, a 30-year-old Laguna Beach resident, reported

she was sexually assaulted on Sept. 4 by a man she met at the White

House, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said. The two walked to her home, where he

allegedly raped her.

The woman reported she had been drinking and was intoxicated at

the time of the alleged rape, police said. It is illegal to have sex

with someone who is not sober enough to consent.

The woman visited the Laguna Beach Community Clinic last Friday,

and a clinic employee called police after a medical examination. The

woman then made a report at the police station the same day.

Police would not comment on what evidence has been found in the

case and detectives have not yet contacted any suspects.

“We have to find the guy and interview him,” Kravetz said.