Alcohol suspected in afternoon crash Costa Mesa...

Alcohol suspected

in afternoon crash

Costa Mesa Police arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of drunken

driving after the car he was driving crossed a double-yellow line and

hit an oncoming car head-on.

John Ford Ackerman, a 42-year-old Orange resident, was driving

west on Victoria Street at about 1:45 p.m. when he drifted right and

struck a car turning right onto the street from Doctors Circle,

police said. Ackerman and his passenger were taken to Western Medical

Center in Santa Ana with injuries that were not life-threatening,

police said.

The driver of the other vehicle was taken to Hoag Hospital, Sgt.

Bob Durham said.

Ackerman showed signs of intoxication at the scene and was

arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, Officer George

Rose said.

Police release name of injured driver

Police identified a woman critically injured in a Costa Mesa

traffic collision Tuesday as 19-year-old Las Vegas resident Chelsea

Martin.

A Chevrolet Silverado going north on Newport Boulevard broadsided

Martin’s Honda Prelude at Fair Drive when Martin allegedly ran a red

light, police said. The Prelude was smashed between the truck and a

light pole at the intersection, police said.

Martin was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana in

critical condition after the accident. She suffered a collapsed lung

and several broken bones and underwent surgery, police said.