Motorist Dies in Crash That Causes Church Fire
A 47-year-old man died early Friday after he lost control of his van, which plowed into a church and caught fire, police said.
The blaze caused about $150,000 damage to the Calvary Baptist Church, 2780 E. Wagner Ave., Fire Capt. Tabby Cato said.
Ralph Davis was headed south on Rio Vista Street in a Ford van about 1:50 a.m. when he failed to negotiate a turn and careened into the building, Anaheim Police Sgt. Mike Bustamante said.
The van knocked a hole in the wall of the church office, and the blaze destroyed the office and an adjoining prayer room, Cato said.
Davis died at the scene, but further tests are needed to determine the cause of death, the coroner’s office reported.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
