1 Killed, 3 Seriously Hurt When Truck Swerves Off of Costa Mesa Freeway
One person was killed and three were seriously injured Monday when they were struck by a Chevy truck that veered down a freeway embankment in Orange, the California Highway Patrol said.
Elena Guillen, 44, of Fontana died in the accident on the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway at East Collins Avenue just before 3 p.m., Officer Mark Reeves said.
In serious condition at local hospitals are Fernanda Guillen, 10; Mariana Guillen, 11; and Mirta Garcia, 47, all of Fontana.
The accident tied up traffic for more than three hours.
Officials said Mark Adams, 35, of Orange swerved to avoid a disabled vehicle on the freeway shoulder, where two people stood nearby to await help, police said. The two people were not injured.
But Adams’ Chevy truck went down the embankment and struck four other people, who also had been passengers in the disabled vehicle. The four were waiting at the bottom of the embankment, apparently because they thought it was safer than the freeway shoulder, Reeves said.
Adams, who was uninjured, was not arrested or cited, police said.
Witnesses are asked to contact CHP Officer Janelle Zaspal at (714) 567-6000.
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