Man Hit, Killed by Car While Crossing Street
A 29-year-old Costa Mesa man was struck and killed by a car early Sunday as he attempted to dash across East Coast Highway, police said.
Todd R. Hasse, his sister and a male friend ran into the street in the 2300 block about 1:20 a.m., police said, and Hasse was hit by a Honda driven by a 24-year-old Laguna Beach woman. The other two made it across safely.
Police said that both the victim and the driver had consumed alcohol, and that an investigation was underway to determine whether that played a role in the accident. The driver had not been cited.
Hasse was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. An autopsy determined that he died of body and head injuries, according to the Orange County coroner’s office.
“This is not the first accident nor the first fatality involving someone trying to cross [Coast Highway] on foot,” Police Sgt. Mike McDonough said.
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