2 Women Killed in Collision With Patrol Car

Two young women were killed Sunday when their car collided with a Westminster police car that was rushing to the scene of a disturbance where another officer had requested help, authorities said.

Jessica Warren, 19, of Stanton and Dawn Hammond, 20, of Costa Mesa were pronounced dead at the accident site.

Warren, the driver, and Hammond were traveling south in a Honda Accord on Newland Street about 9 a.m. when they apparently were broadsided by a patrol car traveling west on Westminster Avenue, Westminster Police Officer Tom Broderson said.

The officer, whose name was not released by the Police Department, was treated for minor injuries at Humana Hospital in Westminster and released, Broderson said.

“He was traveling . . . with his red lights and siren on,” Broderson said. “The vehicles collided in the intersection.”

CHP to Investigate

The police car sustained heavy damage to its front end and the Honda’s left side was crushed.

The California Highway Patrol will investigate the accident, as it does all accidents involving Westminster police officers, Broderson said.

The officer was responding to an emergency “officer needs help” call about 3 miles from where the accident occurred, Broderson said.

“It started out as a disturbance call, and the first officer on the scene requested additional units,” Broderson said. “All units in the vicinity were responding.”

Broderson said officers are instructed “to proceed with caution” through intersections when they are answering calls with their flashing lights and sirens on. “He was within procedures,” Broderson said.

Police declined to provide further information.