Driver of fatal collision on Susan St. and Central identified

Santa Ana Police Department

Driver in fatal traffic collision has been identified as Brian Joseph McCarthy (61 year-old Placentia resident)

Details: On Monday, March 3rd, 2014 at 5:10 am, patrol officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle traffic collision at the intersection of Susan Street and Central Avenue. The vehicles involved were red 1992 Toyota single cab pickup truck and a 2010 International commercial tractor, pulling a loaded 37-foot trailer. The vehicles collided head-on.

It appears that the International tractor-trailer was traveling southbound Susan Street approaching Central Avenue. The red Toyota pickup had just turned right from Adams Street and was traveling northbound on Susan Street when the vehicles collided.

The driver of the Toyota, identified as Brian Joseph McCarthy (61 year-old Placentia resident), was transported from the scene in serious condition. Upon reevaluation at the UCI Medical Center, McCarthy was upgraded to critical condition with life threatening injuries. He was taken into surgery, but succumbed to his injuries the same morning. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the collision. Drugs and/or alcohol is not suspected on behalf of the tractor-trailer driver. Impairment on the part of McCarthy has yet to be determined, pending an autopsy and toxilogical report. The investigation is ongoing.

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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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