Crash claims man’s life
Marisa O’Neil
A crash near a San Diego Freeway onramp Wednesday afternoon left one
man dead and police trying to determine who was at fault.
The crash happened about 3 p.m. at the intersection of South Coast
Drive and Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa Police Officer Shawn Leffingwell
said.
It appears one of the two cars involved ran a red light, but it’s
unclear who was at fault, he said.
“Witnesses behind each car gave us conflicting reports saying who
had a green light,” Leffingwell said.
A dark gray Porsche was headed south on Hyland Avenue and turning
left onto South Coast Drive, Leffingwell said. A Dodge Durango SUV
was headed west on South Coast Drive, toward the onramp to the
northbound San Diego Freeway.
The Durango broadsided the Porsche, sending it into a dirt berm
alongside the freeway.
Fire crews had to cut the door off the Porsche to remove the
driver, Leffingwell said.
Police did not release the name of the driver, pending
notification of relatives, but Leffingwell said it appeared to be a
man in his 70s.
The man was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana
unconscious and in critical condition, he said.
He later died of his injuries.
Two passengers in the Durango suffered minor injuries and were
taken to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Leffingwell said.
The Durango’s female driver was not injured, he said.
Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the accident, Leffingwell
said, and it was not raining at the time.
It was the second serious accident in as many days in north Costa
Mesa.
Tuesday evening, a young couple was struck by a car while they
crossed Sunflower Avenue near South Coast Plaza, Leffingwell said.
They suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Western Medical
Center, Leffingwell said.
They were crossing during a torrential downpour, and apparently
the driver, who was turning left onto Sunflower, didn’t see them, he
said.
No charges have been filed in that accident, and the victims’
names have not been released.
* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be
reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.
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