An unidentified pedestrian was struck by a car and killed early on Thursday morning on the northbound 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa near the 405 Freeway at 3:20 a.m., according to the CHP.
The vehicle that struck the pedestrian was a white Ford Fusion, according to the CHP. The crash happened on the freeway’s right shoulder.
The O.C. Coroner responded to the accident at 3:36 a.m.
The driver in question was not identified.
Juan Martinez Tovar of Santa Ana, a 79-year-old man, was walking on Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach when he was struck by a vehicle early on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The crash that killed Tovar dead occurred about 5:10 a.m. just south of Brookhurst Street, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.
Tovar was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 59-year-old man from Newport Beach, was the driver of the vehicle that hit Tovar. The driver stayed at the site of the crash and he cooperated with the police.
Anyone with information on this crash is asked to call Huntington Beach police investigator D. Demetre at 714-536-5670.
Tovar’s family has started a Gofundme page to raise money for his funeral.
Metrolink train tracks were closed this afternoon between Orange and Santa Ana due to train 664 striking a person on the tracks, according to Metrolink’s Twitter account.
The incident happened about 3 pm today. The injured person later died, according to CBS.
One of our readers saw a heavy police presence at the train tracks at 17th and Lincoln at about 5 p.m. It is possible that this was related to the Metrolink incident.
Metrolink said impacted customers can redeem an Uber voucher at https://vouchers.uber.com/c/r_YLxRkq8whw.
See https://metrolinktrains.com/ubervouchers for more details.
The OCFA responded to two serious car accidents in Garden Grove today, according to their Twitter page.
OCFA firefighters used the jaws of life to save a person who was trapped in their vehicle at a car accident on Clinton St., in Garden Grove, at about 4:23 p.m. today. The patient was transported to an area hospital.
This accident occurred just west of the Riverview Park Neighborhood, in Santa Ana.
OCFA firefighters then responded to a single vehicle accident with two occupants at Brookhurst & Trask, at about 5:56 p.m., in Garden Grove.
This accident occurred near Bolsa Grande High School.
One patient was transported to an area hospital and the second one, sadly, perished at the scene.
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2020) — The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) arrested a driver involved in a single-vehicle roll over that killed one passenger and injured the other passenger
On Thursday morning, Oct. 22, 2020, at approximately 2:25 a.m., the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) received a call from the Anaheim Police Department with information that about 80-100 vehicles were coming from their city and possibly heading to Costa Mesa.
At the same time, the CMPD began receiving calls from several reporting parties that a pickup truck had rolled over within in the intersection of Hyland Avenue and Sunflower Avenue.
Callers were reporting that the intersection had been taken over by approximately 50-100 vehicles and spectators were present.
After the collision, several bystanders rolled the truck to the side where a passenger was found unconscious.
Officers and Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue arrived and initiated CPR; however, the victim succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased was identified as 23-year-old Sergio Marroquin, Jr. The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and took possession of the victim’s body.
The CMPD Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) arrived shortly thereafter to begin their investigation. During the investigation, it was determined that Marroquin, Jr. was a passenger in the vehicle that rolled over while driven in a donut pattern at the intersection.
The driver and cousin of the deceased was identified as Mynor Augusto Esquivelvalle, 22, Los Angeles, and was arrested and booked on murder.
Another passenger who sustained non-life threatening injuries was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated.
There were three spectators, including a female and two males, that were arrested at the scene for aiding and abetting in connection to this incident.
Street racing and street takeovers is an issue that law enforcement throughout the county is addressing. To report street racing and street takeovers in the city, call the CMPD non-emergency number at (714)754-5252. In case of an emergency, call 911.
Anyone who was a witness at the scene of who has any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Traffic Safety Investigations at (714) 754-5264.
Several of our Facebook readers asked on October 14 if we knew what had happened on Baker St. and the 405 Freeway. It turns out there was an awful DUI accident at Baker St. and Bear St., just before noon that day, according to the Costa Mesa Police Department.
The accident involved five cars. The driver of a minivan rear-ended four other vehicles stopped at a red light.
Costa Mesa Police Officers found used syringes in the minivan, as pictured above.
The driver was arrested for felony DUI causing injury to other motorists.
Two victims were transported to a nearby hospital for complaints of pain and two other victims had minor injuries not requiring transport.
On October 4, 2020, at 3:02 a.m., a Fountain Valley Police Officer was involved in an on-duty traffic collision while en route to assist another Officer on a traffic stop.
A preliminary investigation revealed the driver of a white 2017 Nissan Pathfinder ran a red light while traveling westbound Slater at Magnolia and broadsided the patrol unit as it was traveling northbound Magnolia through the intersection.
The driver is a 37-year old male out of Buena Park. The Officer and the driver were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment and were later released.
The Officer suffered minor injuries and the other driver was not injured.
The investigation is ongoing at this time. Incident #20-32938.
From in person to virtual, celebrations from graduations to birthdays have continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, despite the virtual celebrations, so have the power outages and electrical safety hazards caused by adrift metallic balloons, though fewer in number but still troubling.
Southern California Edison (SCE) — which experiences on average nearly three balloon-caused outages daily, including 1,022 last year — has seen that number rise to nearly four outages a day in May (686) and nearly five a day in June (836) over the last five years, including 128 and 152, respectively, in those months last year. This is compared to about one per day (28) in the lowest month of December.
When tangled in electrical equipment, the balloons’ metallic coating is the conductor — or something that easily transmits electricity — that leads to short-circuits, outages and sometimes downed power lines.
“Even one released metallic balloon endangering public safety and potentially causing a power outage is one too many,” said Andrew Martinez, vice president of Safety, Security and Business Resiliency at SCE. “Nobody should ever release balloons outdoors and they should always be kept tied to a weight as state law requires to prevent them from even unintentionally floating away.”
Unintentional or otherwise, an even greater threat to public safety occurs when metallic balloons make contact with electrical equipment and bring down power lines — as they did 98 times last year — potentially leading to wildfires, serious injuries and property damage. For more information on metallic balloon outages by the numbers, visit https://energized.edison.com/stories/celebrations-go-virtual-but-metallic-balloon-hazards-remain-all-too-real.
Metallic Balloon Safety Tips
• Metallic balloons should never be released outdoors.
• Metallic balloons should always be tied to a weight.
• Stores and vendors should only sell properly weighted balloons.
• Keep the balloons indoors when possible.
• Never try to retrieve balloons tangled in power lines or electrical equipment. Call 9-1-1 instead.
• Cut the knot or puncture balloons before disposing of them.
Los Peligros de los Globos Metalizados Siguen Siendo Muy Reales
Las celebraciones de las graduaciones y los cumpleaños han continuado durante la pandemia de COVID-19, aunque ahora son virtuales. Lamentablemente, a pesar de estas celebraciones virtuales, los apagones y los riesgos eléctricos provocados por los globos metalizados que vuelan a la deriva siguen siendo una realidad, aunque en menor cantidad pero siempre preocupantes.
Southern California Edison, que en promedio enfrenta unos tres apagones diarios provocados por globos, incluyendo 1,022 a lo largo del año pasado, ha observado un aumento a casi cuatro apagones diarios en mayo (686) y a casi cinco diarios en junio (836) durante los últimos cinco años, incluyendo 128 y 152, respectivamente, en dichos meses del año pasado. Esto se compara con alrededor de uno al día (28) en el mes más bajo (diciembre).
Cuando se enreda en equipos eléctricos, el recubrimiento metálico de los globos es el conductor, o algo que transmite electricidad fácilmente, que conduce a cortocircuitos, interrupciones y, a veces, líneas eléctricas derribadas.
“Basta un solo globo metalizado que se suelta al aire libre para poner en peligro la seguridad pública y potencialmente provocar un apagón”, dijo Andrew Martinez, vicepresidente de Protección, Seguridad y Flexibilidad Empresarial de SCE. “Nadie debería soltar los globos al aire libre y estos siempre deben mantenerse amarrados a una pesa, tal como lo exigen las leyes estatales, para evitar que accidentalmente se vuelen”.
Accidentalmente o de otra manera, una amenaza aún mayor para la seguridad pública ocurre cuando los globos metalizados entran en contacto con equipos eléctricos y provocan la caída de los cables eléctricos, como sucedió 98 veces el año pasado, lo que puede producir incendios, lesiones graves y daños materiales. Para obtener más información sobre las interrupciones de globos metálicos por los números, visite https://energized.edison.com/stories/celebrations-go-virtual-but-metallic-balloon-hazards-remain-all-too-real.
Consejos de seguridad para los globos metalizados
• Los globos metalizados jamás deben soltarse al aire libre.
• Los globos metalizados deben estar siempre amarrados a una pesa.
• Los negocios y comerciantes deben vender únicamente globos amarrados a las pesas adecuadas.
• Mantenga los globos adentro, si es posible.
• Nunca intente recuperar globos enredados en equipos o cables eléctricos; mejor llame al 911.
• Corte el nudo o pinche los globos antes de colocarlos en la basura.
On Friday, September 11, 2020 at 11:19 AM, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call of a female down in the roadway at 2200 W. 1st Street. Officers responded to the area and found an adult female down in the roadway suffering major injuries. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and began to treat the female before she was transported by CARE Ambulance to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the female pedestrian was crossing 1st Street east of Center when she was struck by a vehicle headed West on 1st Street. The vehicle involved in this collision remained at the scene and the driver was cooperative. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in this collision. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Cpl. W. Hadley at (714) 245-8216 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 31-year-old man has been charged with murder and driving under the influence of alcohol in the death of a 72-year-old Newport Beach woman who was killed while crossing the street after the driver ran a red light and hit her Sunday morning. The woman’s dog was also killed.
Ali Zohair Fakhreddine, of Riverside, has been charged with one felony count of murder, one felony count of driving under the influence causing injury, one felony count of hit and run with permanent and serious injury, and one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% or more causing bodily injury.
He faces a maximum sentence of 19 years to life if convicted of all charges. He is currently being held at the Orange County Jail on $1 million bail.
Fakhreddine was convicted of driving under the influence in San Bernardino County in 2008 and in Orange County in 2015.
Drivers convicted of driving under the influence in California are required to be given what is known as a Watson advisement that informs them that if they kill someone while driving under the influence they can be charged with murder. The Steve Ambriz Act, authored by then-Assemblymember Todd Spitzer, requires people applying for a California driver’s license to sign a form acknowledging that they can be charged with murder if they kill someone while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
On September 6, 2020 at around 6:33 a.m. Cleusa Moraes Coffman was crossing Irvine Avenue at Mesa Street in an unincorporated area of Orange County near the border of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. Fakhreddine is accused of running a red light while driving southbound on Irvine Avenue and hitting Coffman and her Shitzu. Coffman and her dog were both killed.
The driver fled the scene and was found by the Riverside police passed out behind the wheel of his silver Hyundai Sonata which had sustained front end damage. When officers attempted to wake him up, he drove off. He was contacted again by officers and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
“Orange County roads have become incredibly deadly over the last few months because drivers are ignoring multiple warnings not to drink or use drugs and drive. Our county is experiencing a crisis when it comes to fatal crashes involving impaired drivers. Innocent people should not be dying as a result of the selfish decisions by impaired drivers to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “If you drink or use drugs, don’t drive. The life you save maybe someone else’s, or it may be your own. If you decide to drive under the influence and you kill someone, you may be charged with murder.”
Over the last two months the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed numerous cases involving fatal DUI crashes. District Attorney Spitzer has declared Orange County is facing a serious crisis that has resulted in the senseless deaths of so many innocent people. In response, District Attorney Spitzer last week formed the Task Force for the Prevention of Impaired Driving Fatalities with local law enforcement leaders, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the state Office of Traffic Safety, and statewide trainers to develop urgent and immediate recommendations for what can be done to stop this disturbing trend and save additional lives. The task force’s recommendations will be announced in the next two weeks.
Deputy District Attorney Brian Orue of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
On Saturday, September 5, 2020 at approximately 7:19 PM, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call of a vehicle versus motorcycle traffic collision in the area of 100 E. Warner Ave. Officers responded to the area and found a male down in the roadway with visible trauma. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and began to treat the male before he was transported by CARE Ambulance to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the male motorcyclist was headed west on Warner Ave. when he collided with a truck crossing the westbound lanes of Warner Ave. from an alley. The vehicle involved in this collision remained at the scene and the driver was cooperative. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in this collision. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Investigator N. Quinones at (714) 245-8217 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
On Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 10:07 PM, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call of a female down in the roadway at 700 E. Warner Ave., which is near Delhi Park and the Santa Ana Armory.
Officers responded to the area and found an adult female down in the roadway suffering major injuries. Orange County Fire Authority personnel responded and began to treat the female before pronouncing her deceased at the scene.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the female pedestrian was in the roadway at 700 E. Warner Ave. Vehicle #1 was traveling east on Warner Ave. and struck the female. The driver exited the vehicle to check on the female when a second vehicle struck the female in the roadway. Both motorists who were operating the vehicles were contacted at the scene and are cooperating with the investigation. At this time, speed and alcohol are not believed to play a factor in the collision.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Inv. N. Guijarro at (714) 245-8219 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
On Saturday, August 22, at approximately 1:17 a.m (4+ hours after the Fountain Valley Police DUI checkpoint began), Evan Nguyen, a 25-year-old resident of Anaheim, drove right into the checkpoint, which was set up near Brookhurst and Edinger in Fountain Valley, according to the F.V. Police Dept.
Nugyen advanced his vehicle approximately 50 feet past the huge “DUI CHECK POINT AHEAD BE PREPARED TO STOP” sign. He then collided with a parked police motorcycle.
Nguyen was immediately contacted by FVPD Officers and detained. Nguyen was impaired and had narcotics in his pocket.
Nguyen was arrested for VC 23152(a)/(b) – DUI over .08% BAC and HS 11377(a)-possession of narcotics. (20-27330) @ Fountain Valley, California.
The results of the checkpoint were as follows:
– 1,061 vehicles passed through the checkpoint.
– 554 drivers were contacted.
– 9 drivers were evaluated for DUI.
– 1 driver was arrested for DUI (cite/release).
– 5 drivers were cited for being unlicensed.
– 4 vehicles were towed at the end of the checkpoint.
A hit and run driver sheared off the top of a fire hydrant at Sunflower and Bristol, next to Maggiano‘s, on Saturday, August 22, according to the Costa Mesa Police Dept.
Traffic was temporarily shut down on eastbound Sunflower due to flooding.
Costa Mesa Fire Department crew members utilized a special tool to shut off the fire hydrant and provided assistance to all those individuals involved.
The cause was a hit and run traffic collision and the Costa Mesa Police are investigating.
Have you ever wondered which street intersections in Santa Ana are the most dangerous ones? Well now we know, courtesy of the law firm of Aitken Aitken and Cohn. They recently conducted an in-depth study of Santa Ana’s intersections to identify those that are the most dangerous ones, based on crash volume and injury severity.
Here are the top 10 most dangerous intersections in Santa Ana:
Click here to read about the rest of the dangerous intersections in Santa Ana.
Hopefully the City of Santa Ana will use this information to improve road safety in our city.