A woman died after driving into a lake in Irvine

At 9:57 p.m. last night, Irvine Police Department oofficers and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) firefighters responded to the area of Yale, south of Irvine Center Drive, where West Yale Loop and East Yale Loop meet, for reports of a vehicle that drove into the lake.

A witness reported that the vehicle traveled south on Yale from Irvine Center Drive and continued up over the curb and into the lake, which is called North Lake.

The OCFA crew was able to locate the vehicle submerged about 30 yards from the water’s edge. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team responded to assist with the search.

Once the vehicle was brought to the surface, the female driver was recovered inside and pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver was identified as Camilla Megan Mendoza of Long Beach.

The vehicle, a silver Mercedes 4-door sedan, was removed from the lake and towed from the scene.
IPD’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the cause of this collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Christopher Ostrowski at 949-724-7047 or email costrowski@cityofirvine.org.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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