GARDEN GROVE : Man Dies in Crash on 19th Birthday
A Huntington Beach man died on his 19th birthday when the van in which he was riding crashed into a tree Sunday, police said.
Brian Phillips was driving south on Magnolia Street near Bestel Avenue about 3:50 p.m. with his friend Jason Breitenbach. For unknown reasons, investigator Tim Murray said, Phillips’ van jumped the curb into the center divider and hit a tree.
Breitenbach was crushed inside the van. Firefighters had to cut the door on the driver’s side to free Phillips, Murray said.
Both men were taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where Breitenbach was pronounced dead about 4:15 p.m. Phillips, from Fountain Valley and also 19 years old, suffered major injuries and was listed in critical condition after surgery.
Murray said the two men had grown up together and were close friends. Police still are investigating the cause of the accident.
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