Drivers Involved in Crash Still Sought

Irvine police are seeking the public’s help in locating the drivers of two cars involved in a lane-changing dispute that triggered a collision in which four people were injured.

“They were all involved in some kind of a speed contest,” Police Lt. Bob Leonard said about the argument among three drivers just before the 1 p.m. crash on Thursday along MacArthur Boulevard near Bonita Canyon Drive.

Arash Ali Shahangian, 21, of Corona Del Mar was reportedly driving his Acura northbound on MacArthur Boulevard when he apparently got into an argument with the drivers of a red Porsche and a blue BMW, Leonard said.

During the argument, Shahangian reportedly tried to force a lane change, lost control of his car and veered into the southbound lane just south of Bonita Canyon Drive, Leonard said.

Shahangian’s car struck a Honda driven by Donald Arden Gehlke, 77, of Corona, Leonard said. That collision ended up involving five cars and resulted in closure of that section of MacArthur Boulevard for several hours.

Gehlke was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where he was listed in critical condition on Friday afternoon.

Shahangian was listed in stable condition at UCI Medical Center.

Isabella Le Blance, 58, of Corona del Mar, who was driving a Toyota sedan, and Sarah Jane Abad-Hernandez, 21, of Cerritos, who was driving a Pontiac 6000, were taken to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and treated for minor injuries.

Kelly Lynn Davis, 17, of Irvine, who was driving a Volkswagen Fox, and her passenger, Guitta Darbani, 17, were not injured.

Leonard said that police are searching for the red Porsche, described as having a “whale tail” on the rear, and the blue, four-door BMW, which had a bicycle rack on the roof.

If found, the driver of the Porsche and BMW will face felony hit-and-run charges. In addition, they could face felony manslaughter charges if Gehlke dies, Leonard said.

Leonard requested that anyone with information on the location of the two unidentified drivers should call Keith Miledge, police traffic investigator, at (714) 724-7021.