Local News in Brief : Tustin : Driver Collapses, Dies in Truck on Freeway

A 25-year-old man died Thursday when he collapsed at the wheel of his pickup truck while driving on the Costa Mesa Freeway and crashed into the center divider, the California Highway Patrol said.

The Mission Viejo resident, who was not identified pending notification of relatives, apparently suffered a heart attack, CHP spokesman Officer Mike Lundquist said. The death was not caused by trauma, and there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs in the man’s system, Lundquist said.

According to the investigating officer, Rick Lozano, the man was northbound on the Costa Mesa Freeway, north of 17th Street, in the third lane when he lost consciousness. He drifted to the left, crossing the second, first and car-pool lanes and hit the center divider at 10 to 15 m.p.h., Lozano said.

Officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as did paramedics. The man was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was pronounced dead.