Crash Injures 2 Adults and Baby; Drunk Driving Alleged

Two adults and an infant were injured when their car slammed into a passing mini-truck Tuesday evening, authorities said.

The collision sent the 4-month-old baby flying from the lap of a passenger into the front windshield of the small Honda, and pinned the 20-year-old driver behind the steering wheel, Costa Mesa police said.

The driver, identified as Marcos Enciso of Santa Ana, was taken by helicopter to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he was being treated for compound leg fracture and possible head injuries. Costa Mesa Police Traffic Investigator Steve Rautus said Enciso was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and was expected to be transferred to the hospital’s jail ward when his physical condition improves.

The baby, identified as Jacqueline Munoz, was taken by ambulance to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where Rautus said she was treated for facial contusions, a hematoma on her forehead and minor cuts and bruises. The woman passenger in the car, identified as Noemy Mejia of Costa Mesa and a roommate of the baby’s mother, was taken to the same Santa Ana hospital for treatment of back strain, minor cuts and bruises. Both were admitted for observation overnight.

The driver of the Toyota mini-truck, identified by authorities at the scene as Ryan Merrill, 17, of Huntington Beach, was taken to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach for treatment of minor injuries.

Rautus said the accident occurred in the 300 block of Victoria Avenue, when Enciso pulled out from a side street into the path of the oncoming truck.

He said the failure to have the baby in a car seat as required by law contributed to her injuries.

“If she had been in a car seat, she probably would not have had any injuries because the driver’s side of the car took the brunt of the damage,” Rautus said.