Woman Killed in Car Crash; Driver Held

An 18-year-old Santa Ana woman was killed Saturday when she was thrown from her car during an early morning traffic accident allegedly caused by a drunk driver, police said.

Gabriela Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred at 1:25 a.m. at the intersection of Edinger Avenue and Main Street, said Police Sgt. John Dittus.

The driver of the second car, Everardo Castaneda, 21, also of Santa Ana, was arrested by police at the scene on suspicion of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter. He was taken to Orange County Jail.

Castaneda’s tongue was cut, Dittus said, and he was treated at United Western Medical Center-Santa Ana before being jailed. Neither car carried passengers, Dittus said.

Gonzalez was driving her 1981 Mazda RX7 west on Edinger when Castaneda, driving north on Main, failed to stop at a red light, Dittus said. As he drove his 1988 Plymouth Colt through the intersection, he struck Gonzalez’s car, according to Dittus.

Gonzalez, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from her car and landed on the pavement, Dittus said.

A spokeswoman at the Orange County coroner’s office said an autopsy was being performed late Saturday to determine the cause of death.