Driver Killed, 4 Hurt in Newport Crash
A 19-year-old driver was killed and her four passengers were injured early Saturday when their compact car hit a tree on Jamboree Road, police said.
Melissa J. Kaye of Newport Beach died at the scene, said Police Sgt. Fred Heinecke. The four passengers in her 1986 Subaru were taken to local hospitals.
Police said the car bounced off a small tree in the median near Ford Road and hit a larger tree about 12:25 a.m. Heinecke said that speed might have played a role in the crash, which remains under investigation.
Steven J. Aragon, 18, of Norwalk and Rachel David, 18, of Newport Beach were taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. A hospital spokesman said that Aragon was in critical condition and David in serious condition. Steven T. Gagen, 18, of Riverside, was taken to UCI Medical Center, where a spokeswoman said he was in fair condition.
Dennis E. Jones, 18, of Norwalk, was treated at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
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