Woman Killed, Husband Hurt in Collision
A Laguna Niguel woman was killed Thursday in a three-car, rush-hour collision near the intersection of the San Diego and San Gabriel River freeways, the California Highway Patrol said.
Joan Witte, 65, was fatally injured and her husband, Norman Witte, 63, who was driving, was seriously injured when their 1988 Pontiac 6000 was struck from behind after first colliding with a vehicle in front, CHP Officer Pete Gustafson said.
A woman in the car that struck the Wittes’ vehicle was slightly injured.
Joan Witte was pronounced dead at the scene. Norman Witte was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he was reported in fair condition.
The collision occurred just before 5 p.m. on the southbound San Gabriel River Freeway, near Katella Avenue. A 1989 Toyota Tercel in front of the Wittes’ vehicle slowed suddenly because of congestion at the intersection with the San Diego Freeway. The Witte car rear-ended the Tercel, doing minor damage to the Toyota.
As the Toyota pulled over to the center divider, the Wittes’ Pontiac was hit from behind by a 1979 Toyota Corona. The driver of the Corona, a 28-year-old Santa Ana woman, suffered minor injuries. Two children in her car were unhurt.
The crash resulted in a 90-minute SigAlert that backed up traffic to the Artesia Freeway, the CHP said.
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