ORANGE : Freeway Accident Injures 4

Four people suffered moderate injuries Monday when a pickup that swerved to avoid another vehicle flipped over on the Costa Mesa Freeway, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The pickup, driven by Cameron Tinnin, 17, of Rancho Cucamonga, was traveling south on the freeway just south of Walnut Avenue in the car-pool lane when it flipped over, CHP Officer B.A. Newman said.

Tinnin had apparently started to change lanes when he saw a car driven by Regina Steinhaus, 35, of Yorba Linda in his path. Tinnin quickly turned back into the car-pool lane to avoid a collision, but Steinhaus lost control of her vehicle and veered into the car-poollane.

Tinnin’s truck struck the center divider and flipped over, the CHP said. Steinhaus’ vehicle apparently hit the truck, spun out of control, crossed all lanes of traffic and went down the side of the freeway, the CHP said.

The CHP had to close two freeway lanes for about 45 minutes to clear the accident.

Tinnin and his passengers, Erica Benitez, 15, and Lynn Abele, 17, were taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. They were treated and released, according to a nursing supervisor.

Steinhaus was taken to Chapman General Hospital in Orange where she was treated and released, a nursing supervisor said.