SADDLEBACK : 2 Canyon-Area Crashes Occur in Fog

Two related accidents involving five vehicles, including a big-rig construction truck, occurred in the early morning fog Thursday just north of Mission Viejo, leaving one person injured.

The first accident occurred about 6:50 a.m. when William Reeder, 20, of Perris, drove a big rig out of a construction site near Ridgeline Road and onto El Toro Road, crossing both lanes, California Highway Patrol Officer Toni Kodera said at the scene.

Isidoro Saldana, 65, of Santa Ana, was traveling westbound on El Toro Road and slowed his Chevrolet truck to allow the big rig to successfully make the turn. However, a third vehicle, a dump truck driven by Chester Roberts, 36, of Elsinore, failed to stop, and rear-ended Saldana’s truck, which then rammed into the big rig.

No one was injured in the accident, but the westbound side of Ridgeline Road was closed for almost four hours, he said. The eastbound side was closed for about 45 minutes, with traffic allowed only onto the shoulder.

The first accident backed up traffic on Santiago Canyon Road, where about an hour later, a vehicle driven by Clifford Fies, 22, of Huntington Beach collided head-on with that of Anne Kreyche, 31, of Trabuco Canyon, according to Officer Tony Verela at the scene.

Kreyche, who was driving a 1986 Mazda, suffered eye cuts and was treated at Saddleback Hospital and Health Center in Laguna Hills, Daily said.