3 Dead, 2 Hurt in 4 Accidents Over 12 Hours

Four serious traffic accidents in less than 12 hours left three people dead Monday, including a 13-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver Sunday as she walked across Pacific Coast Highway.

Krista Jahn of Seal Beach was taken at 7:20 p.m Sunday to Long Beach Community Hospital, where she died.

“Apparently she was trying to cross Pacific Coast Highway near 12th Street to get to her home and was hit, said Sgt. Dean Zanone of the Seal Beach Police Department.

Police arrested Abdul Kahaliq Rashidi, 22, on suspicion of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, Zanone said.

A mother and her 2-year-old child were listed in stable condition at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana after the car in which they were riding was struck by another vehicle on Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana. The accident occurred about 10 p.m. Sunday near Segerstrom Avenue.

“None of the injuries were life-threatening, including the 2-year-old who was in a child’s car-seat,” said Lt. Bob Helton of the Santa Ana police.

In La Palma, an unidentified motorist swerved across all lanes on the westbound Artesia Freeway before hitting the guard rail and ramming into the Walker Street bridge.

The victim died at the scene of the 1:40 a.m. crash, said California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Joan Rivas.

“The car lost the left rear wheel and when it hit the bridge, it burst into flames,” Rivas said “Because of the fire, we are still unable to find out who was in the car.”

About 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, an 81-year-old man apparently lost control of his car and hit a parked car before ramming into a light pole near Avenida Sevilla and Calle Aragon in Laguna Hills, CHP investigators said.

The victim, Phillip Berman of Laguna Hills, died at the scene, said Officer Marc Mudrick.

Investigators suspect the driver may have been under medication and may not have been wearing a seat belt. A coroner’s investigation is underway.

“It’s always terrible around Christmas time because there are more cars out on the road, and they are in a hurry,” said CHP Officer Bruce Lian.