Off duty Costa Mesa Fire Dept. Captain badly injured by a suspected DUI driver while bike riding

JOINT STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCSD Investigating Major Accident involving Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Captain

MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (November 3, 2018) – This morning just after 8 a.m. OCSD deputies responded to the scene of a traffic collision on eastbound Alicia Parkway near Via Burgos in Mission Viejo. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, a male bicyclist in his 40s, laying in the roadway unresponsive with visible head and body trauma. The Orange County Fire Authority responded and transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition.

From initial witness statements, the driver of a van struck the victim while he was riding his bicycle eastbound on Alicia Parkway. The driver remained at the scene and was evaluated for DUI by an OCSD deputy trained as a drug recognition expert. He is suspected to be under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the collision and multiple prescription medications were in his vehicle.

Deputies arrested the driver, Stephen Taylor Scarpa, 25, Mission Viejo, for felony driving under the influence. He has been booked into the Orange County Jail and bail is set at $100,000.

A SIG alert was issued for eastbound Alicia Pkwy. from Via Burgos to Via Aurora until 3:45 p.m. The investigation is being conducted by the OCSD Major Accident Reconstruction Team and is ongoing.

The victim has been identified as Captain Mike Kreza with Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue, an 18-year veteran of the Department. Captain Kreza was off-duty at the time of the incident. “Our entire Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue family is immensely saddened by the news that one of our own was involved in an accident this morning,” said Chief Dan Stefano. “We are working together to support the family and each other. We appreciate the strong showing of support from our brothers and sisters of the Orange County fire services and law enforcement agencies that have reached out to assist us during this difficult time for our fire family. Please continue to keep Captain Mike Kreza, his wife and children in your thoughts and prayers.” No further information regarding his condition will be released at this time, and we ask for respect for the family and Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue as they deal with this tragedy.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact OCSD Dispatch at 714-647-7000 or anonymous tips can be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.