Driver Dies in 3-Car Crash on Freeway

A 49-year-old man died after his car crossed the San Diego Freeway median during rush hour Thursday morning, crashing into two cars and injuring five people, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol investigators were uncertain why Nick Nhi Ngoc Tran of Orange swerved from the northbound lanes onto the southbound side of the freeway about 9:15 a.m., Cpl. Keith Thornhill said.

Tran crossed over the median, south of the Sand Canyon Avenue exit, and hit a 1986 Nissan pickup, which was in the slow lane of southbound traffic. The truck, driven by Richard Streed, 58, of Laguna Niguel, went off the road, crashed into a chain-link fence and landed in a ditch, officers said.

After hitting the truck, Tran’s 1981 Honda Accord spun around and was hit on the driver’s side by a 1989 Mercedes 300E. Both cars came to a stop near the right shoulder of the freeway.

Rescuers cut off the Honda’s roof to remove Tran, who died at the scene, Thornhill said.

Streed was released at the scene with minor cuts. The Mercedes’ driver, Janet Painter, 44, of Balboa Island in Newport Beach, and three passengers--one 6-year-old and two 8-year-old girls--were treated for minor injuries at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo, Thornhill said.

Authorities do not know if alcohol or drugs were involved, Thornhill said. Medical test results take at least six weeks, Deputy Coroner Stephen Eicherly said. All except Tran were wearing seat belts.

“The Honda was really bent up, to where the actual floor of it was touching the ground,” Thornhill said. “It ballooned out like a can.”

Tran’s body was found slumped between his seat and the steering wheel, officers said. “The Mercedes was crumpled back and the roof line was significantly jagged, but the actual passenger compartment stayed intact, which was important” for Painter and her passengers, Thornhill said.

The two right lanes of the southbound freeway were closed for more than two hours after the accident, officers said. Southbound cars were backed up several miles to John Wayne Airport while northbound commuters curious about the crash caused traffic to back up to the El Toro “Y.”