CENTRAL : SANTA ANA : Couple’s Fight in Car Leads to Fatal Crash

An Anaheim man who had been fighting and arguing with his wife as they drove along the Santa Ana Freeway was killed when their car crashed, throwing him from the vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said Friday.

Abel Beltran, 23, was killed when the car driven by his wife overturned. He was thrown to the pavement and the car rolled on top of him, officers said. The accident occurred about 10:30 p.m. while the car was going north on the freeway at 17th Street.

The car was driven by Rocio Beltran, 23. Unlike her husband, Beltran was wearing a seat belt and received only minor injuries in the crash. Their 4-year-old daughter, who was not wearing a seat belt and was sitting in the rear seat, also received minor injuries, Officer Keith Thornhill said.

The officer said Abel Beltran was apparently drinking as his wife drove the car. They were arguing and physically striking each other, which caused Rocio Beltran to lose control of the vehicle and strike a guardrail. The car overturned, landing on its roof.