WESTMINSTER : 2 Drive Away From Site of Fatal Accident

A 60-year-old doctor who was standing outside his car on the San Diego Freeway was killed early Thursday after being hit by two passing cars. Both drivers fled and are being sought by authorities.

The California Highway Patrol doesn’t know why Clarence Spence of Westminster was standing by his car as it was stopped in the far right lane before the accident, which happened at 5:45 a.m. just north of Beach Boulevard.

CHP Officer Karin Canzano, who is investigating the accident, said: “From what we can piece together, it appears that a car came up behind him, swerved to miss him but wound up clipping his car and hitting him.

“He was knocked about 100 feet forward and landed in (a middle) lane of the freeway where he was struck by another car,” Canzano said.

The driver of the first car, a Plymouth Volare, stopped about 100 yards farther up the freeway and abandoned the car in the far right lane. The driver of the second car, a 1971 Chevrolet Nova, also fled, according to the CHP.

Spence was airlifted to UCI Medical Center in Orange where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

“This is one of our more unusual cases,” Canzano said. “It’s a little scary to think that two people could hit someone then just leave.”

The CHP is asking that any witnesses to the accident call (714) 892-4426.