MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2025) On Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at approximately 1:43 a.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an injury traffic collision near the intersection of Marguerite Parkway and Pueblonuevo Drive in the city of Mission Viejo, according to the O.C. Sheriff.
Deputies arrived and discovered a Chevrolet Malibu and a Toyota Camry had been involved in a head-on collision. Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears the Chevrolet Malibu was driving the wrong way in southbound lanes of Marguerite Parkway and collided with the Toyota Camry head-on.
The adult female driver of the Camry was transported by paramedics to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The driver and a passenger of the Chevrolet Malibu were also transported to a local area hospital to be treated for injuries related to the collision.
The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu, Geraldine Caicedo-Perez, 26 years old, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into the Orange County Jail for CPC 191.5(a) – Gross Vehicular Manslaughter.
The identity of the victim, a female in her 60s, is being withheld pending the Coroner Division’s next of kin notification. She was apparently on the way home from a New Year’s Eve church service.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the collision. If anyone has additional details that may assist investigators, or witnessed this traffic collision, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
