2 Killed, Several Injured in Series of Collisions on Freeway in Anaheim

Two women were killed and several other people were injured early Sunday in a series of collisions on the Santa Ana Freeway that began when a suspected drunk driver slammed into the rear of a pickup truck, the California Highway Patrol said.

The dead women were identified as Elizabeth Newman, 35, of Dominguez Hills, and Patricia Ann Maglietto, 24, of Studio City, the CHP said.

The chain of crashes began shortly after 3:50 a.m. when the driver of a Mustang traveling about 100 m.p.h. rear-ended a pickup truck driven by Alfredo Cortez, 51, of Bell.

Moments later, a Honda sedan carrying Newman, Maglietto and Lori Kitagawa struck the disabled Mustang, and the drivers of a Camaro and Thunderbird stopped to help.

As the driver of the Thunderbird, Karen Counsell, 38, called 911 from her car phone, Justi Saver--the Camaro driver who had stopped to help--joined Newman, Maglietto and Kitagawa in the center divider.

As they stood surveying the wreckage, Weaver said, a woman driving a Toyota off-road vehicle slammed into the collection of cars. Maglietto was killed instantly, and Newman was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The Toyota’s driver, Elisa Ortiz, 28, of Los Angeles, had to be extracted by emergency crews, Weaver said. She was hospitalized for minor injuries. Weaver said Ortiz was not cited pending further investigation.

The Mustang’s driver, identified as Rafael Cruz, 27, of Santa Ana, was caught as he tried to flee. He suffered serious injuries.