Reckless Driving Charge Against Student Weighed

Investigators said Thursday they will recommend that reckless-driving charges be filed against the driver of a car that careened out of control at high speed in Mission Viejo on Tuesday morning, injuring all six Capistrano Valley High School students aboard.

Authorities concluded that the Toyota, driven by senior Kenneth Wong, 18, of Mission Viejo, was traveling at least 64 m.p.h. in a 45-mile-an-hour zone on Marguerite Parkway and weaving in and out of rush-hour traffic, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Fred Lisanti.

In all, 10 people were hurt when the Toyota, driven by Wong, broadsided a car and hurtled out of control through an intersection, striking two other vehicles and then tumbling onto its roof. Three students were hospitalized after being pried out of the crumpled Toyota with the help of a large metal-cutting tool.

Lisanti said sheriff’s investigators will recommend next week that county prosecutors file reckless-driving charges against Wong, who remained hospitalized in serious condition Thursday at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo.

Lisanti said a reconstruction of the crash confirmed witness accounts that the car was speeding and weaving between cars at close distance before the vehicle went out of control at Estanciero Drive at 7:30 a.m.

Linda Chang, 15, had her medical condition upgraded and was moved out of the pediatric intensive-care unit at Children’s Hospital at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, a separate facility at the complex.

Sroothi Jaikumar 14, remained in serious condition in the pediatrics intensive-care unit after emergency surgery Tuesday for broken ribs.

Three other students in the car--and four motorists and their passengers--also were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries but released within hours of the crash.