Collision leaves boy in critical condition A...

Collision leaves boy

in critical condition

A 13-year-old Newport Beach boy remained hospitalized in critical

condition Tuesday after a two-car crash on Newport Boulevard Monday

afternoon.

The boy, whose name was not released, suffered serious head

injuries when an SUV struck the 2004 Toyota Prius in which he was

riding, Costa Mesa Police said.

The Prius was turning left from northbound Newport Boulevard onto

Industrial Way, when a southbound Chevrolet Suburban struck the

passenger side, police said.

The Prius’ driver, 48-year-old Elizabeth Feitler of Newport Beach,

complained of head pain but was not hospitalized.

The Suburban rolled onto its side, and the driver, Peter Infranca,

61, of Costa Mesa, was treated and released from Hoag Hospital with

minor injuries, police said.

Police are investigating the collision and have not made any

arrests or issued any citations in connection with it.

Man pleads guilty

to causing crash

A Mission Viejo man pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he drove

a motorcycle drunk and without a license, causing a freak crash that

seriously injured a Costa Mesa Police officer last year.

Javier Gasga, 34, was sentenced to four years, four months in

state prison after accepting a deal from prosecutors, Deputy Dist.

Atty. Nicole Nicholson said.

He submitted his plea the day he was scheduled to go to trial in

Judge Carla M. Singer’s courtroom.

Gasga was driving a motorcycle at more than 100 mph on the San

Diego (405) Freeway the night of June 2, when he struck a police

motorcycle being driven by Officer Dennis Dickens.

Dickens was thrown from his motorcycle and grabbed onto the leg of

Costa Mesa Police Officer Tony Yannizzi, who was riding alongside of

him.

Dickens lost his grip and rolled onto the freeway, suffering major

injuries, including a cracked pelvis.

The impact threw Gasga onto Dickens’ motorcycle and he

involuntarily rode it for about a quarter of a mile before crashing

it onto the freeway.

Dickens is still recovering from his injuries and has not been

able to return to work.

-- Marisa O’Neil