On Wednesday, November 19, at approximately 9:22 p.m., police officers responded to a traffic collision into The Plaza, in downtown Orange, according to the Orange Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officers found a white Dodge van had crashed into the exterior bollards and caused minor damage to a park bench.
The driver, a 60-year-old man, appeared to be experiencing a medical emergency.
Paramedics from the Orange Fire Department transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Orange Police thank their city Public Works team for quickly responding and making the necessary repairs.
Based on available reports and police statements, here are the traffic collisions that have happened at The Plaza (Orange Circle) in downtown Orange over the past five years:
Documented Incidents
- March 2023 – A carjacking suspect crashed into the historic fountain during a police chase, flipping the vehicle multiple times. [ktla.com]
- November 2024 – An 18-year-old driver sped through the roundabout and slammed into the fountain, damaging benches and poles. [ktla.com]
- August 2025 – A DUI suspect crashed into the fountain after failing to navigate the turn at Orange Circle. [ktla.com]
- November 19, 2025 – The recent crash you mentioned: a Dodge van hit exterior bollards and a park bench during a medical emergency. [ktla.com]
Police records cited in local news indicate at least four collisions at or near the fountain in the past two years alone, and the pattern suggests multiple incidents since 2020. However, there is no single published statistic for the total number of crashes at The Plaza over five years—the official SWITRS database and TIMS mapping system would need to be queried for precise counts. [ktla.com], [tims.berkeley.edu]
Estimated Trend
- The Plaza is considered a high-risk spot due to its historic roundabout design and heavy pedestrian traffic.
- Local media and police have described these crashes as part of a “troubling pattern,” prompting calls for safety improvements or even pedestrian-only conversion. [ktla.com]