Costa Mesa : Seat Belts Credited With Saving 2 Hurt in Crash

Seat belts were credited with saving the lives of a Newport Beach couple who were seriously injured when a Costa Mesa man suspected of drunk driving crashed into their car, police said Thursday.

Injured in Wednesday night’s collision were Neil F. Cullen, 55, and his wife Ethna, 49. Both were in stable condition at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, police said.

“Due to the major injuries they received, both (the Cullens) are probably alive because of wearing seat belts,” Police Lt. Leslie Harrison said.

The suspect, identified as William B. Gelesko, 32, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving, Police Sgt. Clifford McBride said. It was the second drunk-driving arrest for Gelesko, the first coming after a traffic accident last month, McBride said.

Witnesses told police that Gelesko was driving north on Tustin Avenue at high speed about 7:40 p.m. when he ran a stop sign at 16th Street, hit a dip in the road, went out of control and struck the other car head-on. Gelesko, who was uninjured, was being held at the Costa Mesa Jail.