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Category Archives: Accidents

A suspected DUI driver flew off an O.C. freeway and slammed into a motel

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The CHP arrested a driver on suspicion of DUI after he managed to fly his car off an Orange County Freeway and smashed it right into a motel in Buena Park.

The incident happened on Sunday night, Jan. 23, at around 11:10 p.m. The driver was in a 2019 BMW that was traveling eastbound on the 91 Freeway as he headed to the Beach Blvd. off-ramp. However the driver did not handle the curve in the road well and he drove off the roadway, smashing through several freeway signs, before busting through a fence and landing in the Quality Inn at 7555 Beach Blvd.

The driver was fortunate to escape without any injuries and no one at the Quality Inn was injured either, according to the CHP.

The arriving CHP officers suspected that impairment had contributed to the crash and they arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI.

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact investigating Officer O. Renteria at the CHP at 714-892-4426.

The C.M. Police are looking for a suspect who fled from a fatal hit and run involving a man in a wheelchair

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COSTA MESA, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2022) —The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is seeking the public’s help in locating the suspect who fled a fatal hit and run traffic collision. The vehicle involved is described as a 2009-2010 black Toyota Highlander with front-end damage.

Last night, Jan. 20, 2022, at approximately 11:32 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Newport Boulevard and Industrial Way regarding a hit and run traffic collision leaving one victim, a man who had been knocked out of his wheelchair, injured at the scene.

Officers arrived and found the victim with significant injuries. The 50-year-old man was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated but subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His identification is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

The suspect driver fled in their vehicle, which is possibly a 2009-2010 black Toyota Highlander with front-end damage.

The CMPD Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the scene and began their investigation.

CMPD is asking anyone with additional information that can assist in identifying the suspect, specifically witnesses who may have seen the suspect vehicle on Newport Boulevard or Industrial Way, to contact Traffic Investigator Luis Gomez at (714) 754-5264.

Nearby businesses and residents in the area of Newport Boulevard and Industrial Way with video footage from last night are also asked to contact Investigator Gomez.

Colorado woman arrested for the alleged hit and run killing of a Westminster man

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Saleena Isabelle Carra, from Colorado, a 24-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of murder for what the Westminster Police Department has deemed was an intentional hit-and-run collision that killed Oscar Sandoval in Westminster on Jan. 3.

The Arvada Police Department, in Colorado, was contacted by the Westminster Police Department on Jan. 6. Carra lived at a residence in the Arvada area where she was arrested. The suspect vehicle was also located at the Arvada residence and impounded as evidence.

Sandoval, a 41-year-old resident of Westminster, was killed at the 6500 block of Walt Street on Jan. 3, in Westminster. The Westminster Police were initially searching for the driver of an older model gray or black Jeep Grand Cherokee who struck Sandoval at his residence.

The Westminster Police felt Sandoval’s death was a hit-and-run as it seemed that he was intentionally struck by the vehicle.

The vehicle found at Carra’s residence had endured extensive damage, including a missing driver’s side headlight housing that was recovered at the scene.

Carra was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on suspicion of murder. She will eventually be extradited to California.

Westminster police still have not identified that there was any connection between Carra and Sandoval. The investigation is ongoing.

The Costa Mesa police arrested a suspect in a fatal traffic collision involving a pedestrian

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COSTA MESA, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2022) — Yesterday night, Jan. 4, 2022, at 11:25 p.m., Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officers were dispatched to the area of Victoria Street and Placentia Avenue reference a possible rollover traffic collision with the vehicle on fire and one person on the ground. Upon officers’ arrival, the vehicle was fully engulfed and the driver was out of the vehicle. A traffic control light pole was also knocked over due to the collision.

Preliminary reports from witnesses indicate the driver allegedly struck the male pedestrian as he waited on the sidewalk to cross the intersection. Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue also responded and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.

The CMPD Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) arrived shortly thereafter to investigate the incident.

As of this morning, officers are still at the scene and a Sig Alert is also in effect for the area. Westbound Victoria Street is open, but eastbound is closed for another two to three hours, scheduled to open up at about 10:30 a.m.

The driver, Jon Weir, 65, Garden Grove, was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. He was also transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Any victim identifying information is pending next of kin notification.

A two car collision resulted in a hazmat incident tonight in Santa Ana

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OCFA firefighters responded to a hazardous materials incident as a result of a two-car traffic collision at Grand and Fourth in Santa Ana just past 9 p.m. tonight.

One vehicle carrying acid and chlorine had the load spill which prompted the response.

An OCFA HazMat crew rendered the spill neutral. The City of Santa Ana public works will be providing cleanup.

Two were partially ejected from a car after a high speed collision in Tustin last night

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OCFA firefighters responded to the area of Tustin Ranch Road and Pioneer Way for a traffic collision at 11:16 pm last night.

On arrival, the fire crew found a single vehicle that appeared to have been traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control.

The car collided with a large tree that was thrown 20-30 feet away from the point of impact, and split the car.

The driver and passenger were at least partially ejected and the car caught fire.

Both occupants were treated by firefighter paramedics and transported to the hospital.

The accident happened a block south of OCFA Fire Station #43 just west of the OCFA headquarters in Tustin.

A Learjet that took off from John Wayne Airport crashed in El Cajon killing four

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A business jet that took off from John Wayne Airport on Monday, Dec. 27, crashed in El Cajon, killing four people. The pilot was heard screaming in air-traffic control audio “Oh sh*t! Oh sh*t! Oh sh*t!” prior to the crash.

Here is a press release from the San Diego County Sheriff regarding the plane crash:

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department continues to assist our partner law enforcement and fire agencies with a small plane crash in the unincorporated area of El Cajon. 

It happened on Monday, December 27 just after 7:00 p.m. near the 1200 block of Pepper Drive. 

Deputies from the Santee Sheriff’s Station and Lakeside Sheriff’s Substation immediately responded to the scene along with the Lakeside Fire Protection District, California Highway Patrol (CHP) and El Cajon Police Department. 

The plane was scheduled to land at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.  At this time, we do not have information on where the plane was coming from or how many were on board. Firefighters were not able to find any survivors at the crash scene. In the County of San Diego, the Medical Examiner’s Office is the agency that rules on the manner or cause of deaths, as well as identification of the person/people once the family has been notified.

One home was damaged and power lines were knocked down in the area. No one was hurt on the ground. At this time, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) crews are on scene working to restore power to nearly 70 customers in the area. The American Red Cross will be providing assistance tomorrow morning, December 28 to residents who remain affected by the power outage. 

Be aware that Pepper Drive will remain closed between Topper Lane and North 2nd Street through Wednesday, December 29 as it will take some time for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to process the scene. Please avoid the area if you can and plan accordingly if this is part of your commute. 

If you have photos or videos of the plane crash, send them to witness@ntsb.gov. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the plane crash. If you need to talk to someone or need mental health resources, call the County Crisis Line 24/7 at (888) 724-7240.

For the latest updates, follow the Sheriff’s Department on Twitter: @SDSheriff. 

Pomona woman facing felony charges after an alleged DUI collision that killed three in Anaheim

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The Anaheim Police finally tracked down the woman believed to be behind a horrific DUI hit-and-run collision that killed three men in Anaheim back in May of this year. Cynthia Lizbeth Ayala of Pomona, a 27-year-old, is facing charges in connection with that DUI collision.

She is facing a half-dozen felony charges that include gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury. She appeared in court on Monday but did not enter a plea.

The police investigators allege that she was behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz that was traveling north on Brookhurst at around 3 a.m., between Broadway and Orange Avenue, when she crashed into a Kia Soul driven by a 63-year-old Uber driver from Los Angeles, Alexander Smiller, that was trying to turn into the street from a parking lot.

The Mercedes slammed into front, left bumper of the Kia, which caused major front-end damage to both vehicles.

Jacob Rolon

Smiller and his two passengers, Jacob Rolon of La Mirada, age 32, and Richard Zuniga of Anaheim, age 36, were killed.

Ayala and her passenger were taken to a local hospital by a good Samaritan, after the crash, according to the Anaheim Police.

Anaheim Police investigators took months to determine who was at fault and how Ayala and her passenger ended up leaving the crash scene before the police officers arrived.

Richard Zuniga

The investigation determined that Ayala’s Mercedes would have had the right-of-way if the other driver had been turning onto the roadway. A surveillance video obtained by the police showed that the Kia pulled into the street and then the Mercedes slammed into it.

The Anaheim Police are also alleging that Ayala allegedly had a blood-alcohol content of 0.218 at the time of the fatal crash and was also driving at an unsafe speed and not paying attention to the road. That blood-alcohol level is more than double the amount allowed for safe driving.

A man was fatally struck by an Amtrak train in Santa Ana this afternoon

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A train struck and killed a pedestrian In Santa Ana this afternoon, at 17th Ave., near Lincoln Ave.

The pedestrian was walking across the tracks at 12:26 p.m. when he was hit by an Amtrak train.

Investigators have not identified the man or determined why he was walking on the tracks.

The SAPD closed 17th Street between Santiago Street and Grand Avenue while investigators reviewed the crash site. .

A victim of a Santa Ana hit and run crash got a new wheelchair from a local business

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Jose Guzman, of Santa Ana, was lucky to escape with his life when a hit and run driver sheared off the rear wheels of his wheelchair.

Buying a new electric wheelchair would have set Guzman back several thousand dollars. However a local business, the Diversified Wholesale Group, stepped up and gave Guzman a new chair to replace the one that was destroyed.

Guzman had to get around on crutches until he was gifted the new motorized wheelchair. The new motorized wheelchair will get him to and from the grocery store and get to doctor’s appointments now, according to the SAPD. The SAPD told the folks at Diversified Wholesale Group about Guzman’s dilemma.

The Diversified Wholesale Group sells discounted goods to swap meet vendors, wholesaler’s, home renovator’s and contractors. They are based at 1947 S Main St., in Santa Ana. They have a ton of small appliances, vacuums, tools and random stuff according to a Yelp review.

A suspected DUI driver was arrested after a fatal car crash in Anaheim early this morning

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Arturo Ramirezgomez, a 28-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving early Sunday, Dec. 5 after he ran a red light and caused a collision that killed a man and injured three others, according to the Anaheim Police.

The crash happened at 1:53 a.m. at the intersection of West Ball Road and South Magnolia Avenue, when a black Nissan Murano driven by Ramirezgomez was heading west on Ball Road and failed to stop on a red light at the Magnolia intersection.

A black 2016 Honda Accord occupied by four men was struck by the Nissan Murano. Inside the Accord were three 30-year-old men and a 49-year-old man. The 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a rear-seat passenger. The three other victims in the Honda had minor injuries and were all hospitalized.

One of the cars involved in the collision then struck a Toyota Camry, which had stopped at the red light facing Magnolia. A person trapped in a car had to be freed by firefighters.

Ramirezgomez was arrested on suspicion of DUI. He is in custody and apparently suffered minor injuries as well.

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in Costa Mesa this morning

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Today, Nov. 25, 2021, at approximately 2:33 a.m., officers responded to a fatal traffic collision involving a pedestrian, who was walking in lanes of traffic on Newport Boulevard south of 17th Street, when he was hit by a vehicle travelling northbound on Newport. Upon arrival, officers found the 24-year-old male victim unresponsive and performed CPR to no avail. The victim was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

The Costa Mesa Major Accident Investigation Team and CSI responded to scene. A Sig Alert was issued for street closures, which the Newport Beach Police Department assisted with. The Orange County Sheriff Coroner’s Office responded and took custody of the body. The identification of the victim will not be released due to next of kin notification. At approximately 7:15 a.m., the streets were cleared and closures were lifted.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with officers during the investigation. The driver was sober, no alcohol or drugs are suspected, and no arrests were made.

A Garden Grove man is under investigation for DUI driving after a fatal crash on the 405 Freeway

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Two people in a Honda died on the 405 Freeway, in the Seal Beach area, when their vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by Oscar Anguiano, a 39-year-old Garden Grove man.

CHP investigators believe that Anguiano may have been impaired while he was driving a 2014 Volkswagen that collided with a 2000 Honda on the southbound 405 near Seal Beach Boulevard just before 11:51 p.m. on Saturday.

Anguiano was reportedly driving the Volkswagen at a high rate of speed when he slammed into the Honda, which immediately burst into flames on impact.

Anguiano was taken to the UCI Medical Center with major injuries after the crash. He remains under investigation for driving under the influence. However it is not known at this time if he is in police custody yet.

The names of the victims have not been released yet.

The horrific crash resulted in the shut down of the southbound 405 late on Saturday all the way into Sunday morning.

The lanes were cleared of debris and reopened by around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

A bicyclist was killed in Santa Ana on Friday by a hit and run driver

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A bicyclist was killed in Santa Ana on Friday morning, Oct. 29. at around 6:34 a.m., at the intersection of McFadden Avenue and South Bristol Street.

A vehicle struck the victim was he rode a bicycle. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene right away, according to the SAPD.

The victim has been identified as Justin Sanders, age 24.

Sanders was declared dead at the scene by the responding paramedics.

SAPD investigators are still trying to identify the hit-and-run suspect.

A Santa Ana toddler fell to his death from a third story bedroom window

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The SAPD reached out to help a family in mourning after their toddler, Isaias Pacheco Jimenez, died in a tragic accident just before his first birthday.

Jimenez died on Sep. 4 when he fell through a bedroom window as he pushed on the screen, on the third story at his home.

According to the victim’s parents, the windows were reportedly replaced this summer when they refurbished their home.

Jimenez left behind his grieving parents and three siblings.

The toddler’s father, Richard Pacheco, was asleep after working at two jobs. The toddler was sitting on the bed, next to the bedroom window. His mother, Angelica Jimenez, got up to go to the bathroom. Then the toddler got up and pushed on the window screen, which tragically gave way.

The SAPD investigators determined that the toddler’s death was an accident.

The SAPD was able to donate more than $ 1,100 to the family on Wednesday to help them during this difficult time.

The family said the money would go with the children to Dia de los Muertos, or the altar dedicated to Isayas for the Day of the Dead. The annual Mexican tradition aims to be reminiscent of a loved one who died on a colorful altar. It is usually celebrated from November 1st to 2nd, according to ABC News.