One critical after crash

Marisa O’Neil

A multi-vehicle crash sent three people to local hospitals and closed

down the Adams Avenue bridge for more than five hours Wednesday

morning.

Costa Mesa resident Glenn Morton, 49, was seriously injured when a

chain-reaction crash sent another car across lanes, hitting his van

head-on, police said. Morton was taken to Western Medical Center in

Santa Ana in critical condition.

Two other drivers, Laura Long, 51, of Newport Beach and Star De

Luna, 38, of Huntington Beach, complained of pain and were taken to

nearby hospitals, Carver said.

The accident happened just after 8 a.m., Costa Mesa police Sgt.

Marty Carver said.

A 1999 Nissan Altima driven by Prasanthi Patel, 18, of Fountain

Valley, appeared to be the first car involved in the crash, Carver

said. She was not injured, Carver said.

“[The Altima] was going eastbound on Adams by the bridge at a high

rate of speed and [made] attempts to avoid colliding with slowing

traffic on Adams west of Shantar [Drive],” Carver said.

The car swerved, hitting De Luna’s 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, which was

driving in the same direction, he said. That sent the Tiburon into

westbound lanes, striking an oncoming 1969 Volkswagen bus driven by

Morton.

Patel’s Altima then struck Long’s 2000 Chevrolet Blazer, also

driving east on Adams Avenue, police said.

Hours after the accident, a long, silver bumper remained lodged on

the rear of the Blazer, parked on the side of Adams Avenue. A silver

Altima, its bumper missing, sat some 15 feet behind.

A red Tiburon, its front end smashed in, was perpendicular to

westbound lanes near the Volkswagen.

Police took measurements and scoured the scene for evidence for

hours after the accident. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor,

Carver said.

The Adams Avenue bridge that connects Costa Mesa and Huntington

Beach remained closed until at least 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Traffic was diverted at Brookhurst Street in Huntington Beach and

at Albatross Drive in Costa Mesa.

So far, no citations have been issued, Carver said. The accident

is under investigation.

* 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.