An elderly man from Orange died after his vehicle collided with a tree in Garden Grove

On March 13, 2025, at around 4:53 A.M., the Garden Grove Police Department received reports of a traffic accident involving a vehicle and a tree in the 13200 block of W. Chapman Avenue.

Officers arrived at the scene and found the driver unresponsive.

Orange Fire Department personnel assessed the driver’s injuries, and the driver, 78-year-old James Eads from Orange, was pronounced deceased at the scene. There is no indication that alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash.

The investigation was taken over by the Garden Grove Police Department’s Neighborhood Traffic Unit, and the cause of the collision is still under review.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has relevant information, or possesses video footage is urged to contact Investigator Wren at 714-741-5867 or via email at daniellew@ggcity.org.

• LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 13200 Block of Chapman Ave., City of Garden Grove
• DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: 3/13/2025 @ 4:53 a.m.
• PARTIES INVOLVED: Driver, James Eads, Male, Age 78, Resident of Orange
• VEHICLE INVOLVED: White 2000 Toyota Tundra

Approximately 20% of fatal car accidents in the U.S. involve collisions with stationary objects like trees, utility poles, and traffic barriers. These types of accidents often occur when a vehicle leaves the roadway, and factors such as excessive speed, alcohol, inattention, and poor visibility frequently contribute to these incidents.

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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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