Anaheim : Pickup Driver in Fatal Accident Is Arrested

A man from Big Bear City was killed and his passenger seriously injured Saturday evening when an allegedly intoxicated driver in a pickup truck made a left turn in front of their car, police said.

Steven Laybourne, 23, was driving south on Brookhurst Street shortly before 8 p.m. when he collided with the pickup, skidded across the intersection and slammed into a bicyclist waiting to cross the street, police said.

Laybourne was pronounced dead of internal injuries about an hour later at UCI Medical Center. Renee Deleusomme, 15, also of Big Bear City, a passenger in Laybourne’s car, remained in stable but guarded condition Sunday in the intensive care unit at UCIMC, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The bicyclist, John M. Huitt, 17, of Anaheim, was treated at Humana Hospital in Anaheim for a cut on his head.

The driver of the pickup, Paul D. Hefferan, 33, of Buena Park, was not injured. Hefferan was booked on charges of driving under the influence and manslaughter and was being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Laybourne’s death is the fifth traffic fatality of 1986 and probably the second involving charges of driving under the influence, Deputy Coroner Richard Rodriguez said.