3-Car Accident in Santa Ana Leaves 7 Hurt

Seven people were injured, three of them seriously, when a car that may have been racing with another car apparently ran a stop sign at Warner and Orange avenues in Santa Ana and crashed into two cars crossing the intersection.

Investigating officer Stu Smith said preliminary reports show that two cars may have been drag-racing on Orange, and that the driver of the second car left the scene.

George M. Perez, 27, the driver of the car heading south on Orange that police believe sped past the stop sign, was in surgery at Fountain Valley Community Hospital on Saturday night. Two passengers in his car were also seriously injured. Theresa Granillo, 23, was sent to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, and Angel Ruiz, age unknown, was taken to Fountain Valley Community Hospital. Both are listed in serious condition. Two other passengers in that car, Zoean Perez, 24, and Candelario D. Granillo, age unknown, were hospitalized with lesser injuries.

The Perez car reportedly plowed into a car heading west on Warner driven by Maria Carmen Penaflor, 22. A car driven by Dori T. Christy, 20, which was parallel to the Penaflor car, was also struck in the collision. Both of those drivers were treated for minor injuries and released.

All seven involved in the accident were Santa Ana residents.

Smith said police will continue to investigate the possibility that yet another car was involved, but that so far they have learned of none. No one has been cited.