An elderly man died at the Irvine Spectrum after getting wedged between his car and parking equipment

Yesterday, January 2, 2025, at about 3:30 p.m., the Irvine Police Department (IPD) received reports of a man having a medical emergency at the parking structure exit at 100 Spectrum Center Drive.

IPD officers and the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) responded to the location. Upon arrival, officers saw a man wedged between the partially open driver’s door and his vehicle, being assisted by a good Samaritan.

IPD officers and OCFA took over lifesaving measures. The man was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

The man was later identified as Robert Ray Bell, an 88-year-old resident of Laguna Woods.

Based on witness statements and video obtained at the scene, the driver approached the security exit gate and stopped to pay. It appears the driver did not place his Mazda SUV into the park gear
because the vehicle began to move forward when the driver was outside the car. The open driver’s door made contact with parking equipment, causing the driver’s door to close on the man. He became trapped between the door and the vehicle and could not free himself.

IPD’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating this case. Anyone with information about this collision should contact Detective Juarez at 949-724-7047.

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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