New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Accidents

A DUI suspect crashed into a utility box in Orange

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, OCFA, Tustin Leave a comment

Early Saturday morning, Tustin police officers responded to the area of Newport and Holt regarding calls about a vehicle which had crashed into a structure.

The driver had crashed into a utility box, was unconscious behind the wheel, and was still actively accelerating forwards.

The responding police officers quickly devised a plan to trap the vehicle in its place and prevent injury to other motorists or further damage to property.

Will you still vote for Sarmiento even though his family is suing the City of Santa Ana?

With the assistance from OCFA firefighters, the male driver was safely removed from the vehicle without risking emergency personnel to injury from possible electrocution.

The male suspect was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and booked at Orange County Jail.

Driving under the influence often leads to a disastrous ending. Please call a taxi or use a service like Uber instead! Remember if you are buzzed you are drunk…

A teenage girl got her hand stuck in an escalator rail at the MainPlace Mall

Posted on August 1, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, OCFA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

If you were at the MainPlace Mall on Sunday night you may have noticed a commotion.

A teenage girl somehow got her hand stuck in an escalator rail at the MainPlace Mall at about 6:30 p.m.

OCFA crews were able to dismantle a portion of the escalator without further injuring the victim. She was deemed to be in stable condition and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

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It took the firefighters over an hour to free the girl’s hand.

To prevent such instances your hands should always be placed on top of the escalator rails.

Irvine man arrested after a fatal DUI collision killed a driver, a passenger and a dog

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Crime, Drugs, Irvine Leave a comment

An Irvine man has been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs following a collision that killed another driver and their passenger.

Just after 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, Irvine Police Department (IPD) and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel were called to a traffic collision at the intersection of Meadow Valley and Spring Valley.

When personnel arrived, a Mini Cooper was engulfed in flames. The other involved vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf, was driven by 20-year-old Jack Varganagl of Irvine.

OCFA extinguished the fire, and the driver, a passenger, and a dog were discovered deceased inside the Mini Cooper. Varganagl was transported to a local hospital for injuries he sustained during the collision. He has been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs.

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IPD will be working with the Orange County Coroner to identify the individuals that died and make notification to their next-of-kin.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation but speed and driving under the influence of drugs appear to be factors.

Six vehicles were involved in a collision at N. Bristol St & W. 1st St. tonight

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

OCFA firefighters found six vehicles involved in a traffic collision at N. Bristol St & W. 1st St. when they arrived on scene just past 10 p.m. tonight.

They declared the incident a multi-casualty incident and requested additional paramedic units and ambulances.

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A total of seven people were assessed by firefighter paramedics & five were transported in various conditions. Hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life) were used to cut two of the cars to extricate the victims.

The cause of the traffic collision is under investigation by the SAPD.

Unlicensed teen driver charged with murder after a high-speed crash in Orange killed 3 passengers

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Crime, OCDA, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Street Racing Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – An unlicensed 19-year-old driver who led Orange police on a brief police pursuit at more than 100 miles per hour before crashing and killing three passengers, including a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, was charged today with three felony counts of murder. Three teenage passengers were also ejected during the crash, but survived.

Azarie Dupree Fuller, 19, of Exeter, has also been charged with one felony count of evading while driving recklessly and causing death, three felony counts of child endangerment by a caretaker, one misdemeanor count for driving without a valid license, and an infraction for speeding more than 100 mph.

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He faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life plus 14 years if convicted on all counts. Fuller, who remains hospitalized, is scheduled to be arraigned on August 4, 2022. His bail is set at $3,550,000.

On Saturday, July 9, 2022, at around 2:47 a.m., Fuller is accused of coming to a screeching halt in a Nissan Altima near the back of an Orange Police Department vehicle stopped in a turn lane of West Lincoln Avenue just west of Glassell Street. Two officers, including a police trainee, were inside the police car.

Fuller is accused of making a U-turn, turning his lights off, and driving more than 100 miles per hour with an Orange police officer and his trainee in pursuit. Less than a mile after the chase began, Fuller is accused of leaving the road and crashing into multiple poles. The Altima erupted into flames and all seven people in the vehicle, including Fuller, were ejected from the car.

Dayanara Rebolledo, 14, Dominic McGinley, 17, and Gustavo Castro, 26, were killed. Three other passengers, including two 14-year-olds and a 17-year-old, were injured in the crash, but survived.

“This 19-year-old had no regard for the lives of anyone on the road that night – not for the lives of his friends, the lives of the two police officers who tried to stop him, or even his own life,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Two children and a young man lost their lives and they didn’t have to die. And two police officers will have to live the rest of their lives knowing that they did everything they could to save them – and it wasn’t enough to stop someone who was hell-bent on death and destruction. These deaths don’t just destroy individual families; they destroy entire communities.”

Deputy District Attorney Brian Orue of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

A speeding car flipped over and ejected 7, killing 3, in Orange

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Orange, Street Racing Leave a comment

Orange, CA- On Saturday July 9, 2022, 19-year-old Azarie Fuller from Exeter, Ca was identified as the driver of the Nissan Altima responsible for the collision that killed three people. The vehicle was occupied by Fuller, three male juveniles, two female juveniles, and one male adult.

At approximately 2:47 a.m., two officers from the Orange Police Department were conducting unrelated police activity and observed the Nissan traveling south on Glassell Street at a high rate of speed from Lincoln Avenue.

As the officers drove south on Glassell in an attempt to locate the vehicle, they found it fully engulfed in flames on Glassell north of Taft Avenue. They located the seven occupants who had all been ejected from the vehicle. One female juvenile, one male juvenile, and 26-year-old Gustavo Castro from Garden Grove were pronounced deceased at the scene.

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The driver, Azarie Fuller, along with one male juvenile and one female juvenile were transported to local hospitals in critical condition. The seventh passenger, a male juvenile, was transported with moderate injuries.

The Orange Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team responded and is handling the investigation.

Witness statements along with evidence at the scene, which included a suspected Nitrous Oxide tank and balloons, indicate alcohol and drugs were likely a factor in addition to speeding.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Motor Officer Bryce Nielsen at 714-744-7444.

A pedestrian died after being struck by a train just south of the Santa Ana DMV branch

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, OCFA, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

A pedestrian was struck by an Amtrak Surfliner train on the railroad tracks between Grand and Chestnut Avenues around 11:32 p.m. on Wednesday night, in Santa Ana.

The pedestrian was declared to be deceased by the paramedics who responded to the scene.

The identity of the pedestrian has not been released yet by the OC Coroner.

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The SAPD is not sure yet why the pedestrian was on the railroad tracks. However transients are often seen in that area.

The Amtrak train that struck the pedestrian was traveling northbound to Los Angeles. The train was delayed for hours while the investigation took place. Traffic was also affected on local surface streets.

The accident occurred just south of the DMV and a few blocks west of the SAUSD headquarters and Villa Fundamental Intermediate.

A bicyclist was fatally struck by a pickup truck in Fountain Valley on Sunday

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Bicycles, Fountain Valley Leave a comment

On July 5, 2022, at 6:57 a.m., Fountain Valley Police Officers responded to a traffic collision on Brookhurst Street at Garfield Avenue. A silver Ford F350 truck was making a left turn from eastbound Garfield Avenue to northbound Brookhurst Street when it struck a bicyclist riding eastbound Garfield in the north curb line crosswalk.

The bicycle rider, a 73-year old male of Fountain Valley, was transported to an area hospital for internal injuries and is currently in critical condition.

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Unfortunately, the bicyclist, identified as Dac Them Kieu, succumbed to this injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The driver of the Ford, a 65-year old male of Huntington Beach, remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

Alcohol and/or drugs does not appear to be a factor in the collision at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

Any witnesses to the collision are encouraged to contact the FVPD Traffic Bureau at 714-593-4481. Incident #22-22611.

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle last night in Santa Ana

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On 06/21/2022, at 11:29 P.M., the Santa Ana Police Department received multiple calls regarding a male down in traffic lanes in the area of 2600 S. Bristol Street.

Officers from the Santa Ana Police Department along with the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene where the pedestrian was declared deceased.

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Based upon the preliminary investigation, it is believed that the male was in the southbound lanes of 2600 S. Bristol when a vehicle traveling south on Bristol struck him. The vehicle involved in this collision remained at the scene and the driver was cooperative. The pedestrian may have been struck by a second vehicle but that remains under investigation along with the cause. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in this 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. J. Correal at (714) 245-8215 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.

A bicyclist was fatally struck by a vehicle at Bristol Street & Edinger Avenue

Posted on June 18, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

On Saturday, June 18, 2022, at approximately 8:30 AM, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call for service related to a traffic collision at the intersection of Bristol Street & Edinger Avenue. When officers arrived, they discovered the collision was involving a vehicle and a bicyclist. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed his injuries. The bicyclist is described as a 67-year-old male.

It appears that the bicyclist was riding southbound on Bristol Street through the intersection of Edinger Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on Edinger Avenue.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperative with investigators. At this time, there are no indications that speed or intoxication were a factor.

Anyone with information on the collision is asked to contact Cpl. W. Hadley at 714 245-8216

The Costa Mesa Police need help finding a suspect involved in a fatal hit and run collision

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Costa Mesa, Public Safety Leave a comment

COSTA MESA, Calif. (June 16, 2022) – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is actively investigating a fatal hit and run that occurred last night. On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at about 9:04 p.m., a 64-year-old female pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle while she crossed the street on Fairview Road, just south of Baker Street. Her identification is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

The suspect driver fled the scene in their vehicle.

The CMPD Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the scene and began their investigation. Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as possibly a silver Toyota sedan. Based on evidence at the scene, the vehicle will have moderate front-end damage, as well as windshield damage.

CMPD is requesting the public’s help in identifying the suspect vehicle and driver in this incident. Anyone with information is asked to please contact Traffic Investigator Luis Gomez at 714-754-5264.

Nearby businesses in the area of Baker Street and Fairview Road with video footage from last night are also asked to contact Investigator Gomez.

The SAPD is trying to identify a hit and run driver who killed a pedestrian on May 18

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On Monday, May 18, 2020 at approximately 11:02pm, the SAPD received several calls of a male down in the roadway who was near the intersection of Raitt and St. Anne Streets.

Officers responded to the area and found a male down in the roadway with major trauma. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and began to treat the male before pronouncing him deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation has revealed the male, who was either walking or jogging, was in the roadway when he was struck by a vehicle headed north on Raitt Street. The vehicle involved was possibly a white four door sedan in this collision fled from the scene prior to the officers’ arrival. It remains outstanding and it, along with the driver, remain unidentified. It is unknown if alcohol is to have played a role in this collision. 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) 245-8284.

A driver crashed his pickup truck into a home in Orange on Friday night

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Orange Leave a comment

On Friday night at 10:45 p.m., a 55-year-old male from Villa Park was driving east on Katella in an F-250 when he sideswiped another vehicle. This caused the truck to lose the front passenger side wheel, which caused the truck to veer off the roadway and collide into the front of a residence in the 2400 block of E. Katella.

Fortunately, the residents inside the home were not injured, but the house sustained major structural damage and the gas meter was damaged.

Orange City Fire responded, shut off the gas, stabilized the structure, and red-tagged it.

The driver was arrested for DUI and transported to a local hospital. Traffic on Katella Ave. was closed for approximately 2.5 hours while OFD was on scene.

Two pedestrians were struck, one fatally, by a car in Santa Ana last night

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, automobiles, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On 06/04/2022, at 8:27 P.M., the Santa Ana Police Department received multiple calls regarding a pedestrian down in traffic lanes in the area of 4725 West 1st Street. Officers from the Santa Ana Police Department along with the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene where they located two pedestrians in the street.

One of the pedestrians, Lucia Rodriguez Lopez, 36, of Santa Ana, was declared deceased at the scene. her husband, the second pedestrian, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

Based upon the preliminary investigation, it is believed that the pedestrians were crossing 1st Street when a vehicle traveling west on 1st Street struck them. 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.

A motorcyclist died after colliding with a tree in Orange

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Motorcycles, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

At approximately 8:15 p.m. on May 28, Orange Police Officers responded to the 3100 block of N. Tustin St. regarding a report of a motorcycle colliding with a tree.

Officers and firefighters with the Orange Fire Department located a male adult motorcyclist deceased at the scene.

All lanes of traffic on Tustin St. were closed between Bixby Ave. and Santa Ana Canyon Road after the accident.

The Orange Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team were on scene and handled the collision.