Freeway Race Causes Pileup; 6 People Hurt

A van chasing a pickup in an apparent race along the San Diego Freeway in Irvine careened out of control in rush-hour traffic Wednesday and smashed into cars heading the opposite direction, authorities said.

The accident resulted in a pileup that left six people injured, one seriously. It also generated a miles-long traffic snarl in both directions as California Highway Patrol officers closed off part of the freeway and declared a SigAlert.

The van driver was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving and taken to Orange County Jail, CHP officials said. CHP officers had no immediate information on the whereabouts of the driver of the pickup, which was not involved in the collision.

The accident occurred at 3:20 p.m. on the northbound San Diego Freeway just south of Culver Drive. CHP investigator Art McMahan said the van and the pickup were racing each other on the northbound lanes of the freeway at speeds of up to 70 m.p.h.

Witnesses saw the van swerve erratically in and out of lanes and use the freeway shoulders to get past traffic, McMahan said.

The van lost control due to a slower vehicle ahead and veered off the freeway on the right dirt shoulder, McMahan said. The van then swerved back across all northbound lanes until it struck a Mazda RX-7 in the fast lane, he said.

The Mazda was forced off the road and across the freeway median, McMahan said. The Mazda and van both went through the center divider into oncoming traffic. A southbound Mercedes-Benz was sideswiped before the Mazda and van ran head-on into a Dodge convertible, McMahan said. A fifth vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, was damaged by flying debris, he said.

Most seriously injured was the driver of the convertible, James Walsh, 39, of Mission Viejo. He was airlifted to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana for treatment of major injuries. His condition was not immediately known late Wednesday night.

The driver of the Mercedes, identified by relatives as Paula Banbrick, 41, of Anaheim Hills, was admitted to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center in good condition. She suffered cuts and scrapes.

Judy Black, 25, of Lakeside was admitted to the same hospital, also in good condition. Officers said she was a passenger in the Mazda RX-7, driven by her husband, Robert Black, also 25. He was treated and released at the Fountain Valley hospital.

The van’s driver, identified as Arturo V. Saldana, 22, of Santa Ana, and his passenger, Hector Villalpando, 23, also of Santa Ana, were treated at Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills for minor injuries. Saldana was later taken to County Jail, but his companion was released, McMahan said.

Banbrick’s husband, Keith, said his wife is a computer sales representative who was going to a business appointment when she was hit. She remembers “the car coming across the median and slamming into her,” he said.

Orange County fire paramedics had to use hydraulic equipment to pry her from the wreckage.