Irvine : El Toro Man Dies After Crashing Car Into Tree
An El Toro man died early Friday of injuries received Thursday after running his car off Jeffrey Road and ramming a tree, police said.
Fire officials used a hydraulic prying device to free Paul Richard McDowell, 35, from his 1976 Chevrolet Chevette in the 4:30 p.m. accident, Lt. Michael White said. McDowell was then flown by helicopter to Western Medical Center, Santa Ana, where he died at 1:10 a.m. Friday.
Witnesses said McDowell’s car was northbound on Jeffrey Road near Barranca Parkway when it swerved left, struck the center divider and then swerved right and off the roadway, colliding with a tree, Lt. White said.
Police believe that McDowell may have had an epileptic seizure while he was driving, Lt. White said. He declined to elaborate.
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