2 Killed, 2 Critically Hurt in Separate Road Accidents

Two men were killed and two others critically injured in separate traffic collisions that authorities said were caused by drunk driving and speeding early Saturday.

Sergio Avalos Crisantos, 27, of Anaheim was held on suspicion of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter after the 1961 pickup truck he was driving struck a palm tree in a median divider on South Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim, police said.

He had two passengers in his cab. Miguel Valenzuela, 18, of Anaheim was killed instantly, police said. Crisantos and Rene Arteaga, 21, of Anaheim were taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where they were listed in critical condition.

A police spokesman said a witness reported that Crisantos had been driving north on Harbor toward Katella Avenue about 2:20 a.m. He drove in the right lane but weaved into the left lane several times, the spokesman said, then collided with the tree, apparently without trying to brake.

In the other crash, a 31-year-old Orange County man was killed when he crashed into a sound wall on the San Diego Freeway near the Studebaker Road exit in Long Beach. His name was not released pending family notification.

The driver was traveling about 90 m.p.h. in a Dodge Colt on the left lane of the freeway, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said. There was no evidence of alcohol or drug use.

A witness told CHP investigators that the driver tried to pass a slower car but apparently lost control, swerved into the right lane to avoid a collision, then struck a guardrail and crashed. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.