Boy’s Condition Still Critical After Fire Engine Crash

An Anaheim boy remained in extremely critical condition Friday with head and internal injuries, one day after his father’s pickup truck collided with a speeding fire engine at a San Juan Capistrano intersection.

An Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said alcohol may have played a role in Thursday’s crash, which critically injured the boy’s father and a landscaping co-worker. When extracting the three Anaheim residents from their crumpled 1973 Ford pickup, emergency crews discovered a vodka bottle and a beer can that had apparently fallen from the vehicle’s cab.

“Right now we don’t know whether the driver was under the influence,” said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Steve Doan. The driver has been identified as Antonio Velasque Ortega, 44. No charges have been filed in the incident.

The collision occurred at 1:59 p.m. Thursday, as Ortega, his 11-year-old son, whose name has not been released, and co-worker Juan Lomendez, 45, were heading northeast along San Juan Creek Road. Officials said they do not know which vehicle had the green light. However, they said the 20-ton pumper truck was using its lights and siren at the time.