El Toro : Man Fatally Injured as He Pushes Disabled Car

An 18-year-old man, reportedly an exchange student from Japan, was fatally hurt when struck by a car Tuesday night while pushing his disabled car.

Chiaki Saito of El Toro had been driving south on Rockfield Boulevard south of Dune Mear Road when his car broke down, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Saito and an unidentified male passenger got out to push the car to the side of the road while a female companion, Toshiko Yamaguchi, 20, also of El Toro, steered, Officer Patrick Barnard said.

The car, with its emergency flashers on, was in the No. 2 lane, according to Barnard, who said Saito was pushing at the left rear side when he was struck from behind about 10:20 p.m. Saito died at Mission Community Hospital Medical Center in Mission Viejo. His companions were not injured.

The CHP said it will will seek felony drunk-driving and vehicular manslaughter charges against Marie Landfair, 42, of Tustin, the driver of the second car. Landfair was reported in fair condition at Mission Hospital with injuries suffered when her car hit the Saito car.