Second Driver Dies After Canyon Crash
A violent traffic pileup last week on Santiago Canyon Road near the base of the Santa Ana Mountains claimed its second victim Friday when a Riverside County woman died of injuries she suffered in the crash.
Julia Brantner, 27, of Menifee, died at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, said supervising deputy Joseph Luckey of the Orange County coroner’s office.
Brantner was one of five motorists involved in a rush-hour collision on the rain-slicked highway near the Eastern toll road. Also killed was 21-year-old Shadi Basharah of Anaheim.
Luckey said reports indicated Brantner was driving a car that collided head-on with Basharah’s Mercedes. Basharah was ejected from his car and died at the scene. Luckey said investigators could not specify the cause of death for Brantner until an examination had been completed.
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