Head-on collision injures two

Two people were seriously injured Thursday afternoon in a head-on collision on North Coast Highway near Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach. Traffic was tied up through the evening rush hour due to the incident, which closed northbound highway lanes from about 4 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Newport Beach resident Mark Barker was driving southbound on North Coast Highway, and according to witnesses, hit a guard rail on the west shoulder before crossing over into oncoming northbound traffic, according to Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz. Barker’s vehicle collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Sara Perez-Godina of Garden Grove. Witnesses at the scene alleged that Barker had been involved in another hit and run collision in Newport Beach prior to this incident.

Barker was transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo via ambulance and Perez-Godina was transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo via Mercy Air Ambulance. Both of their injuries were determined to be serious, but non-life threatening.

The investigation is ongoing, but preliminarily, investigators believe Barker had been operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, Kravetz said.

Once the investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for a possible criminal filing against Barker for suspected felony driving under the influence.