Speeding a Likely Factor in Road Deaths of 2 Men

Excessive speed apparently played a role in separate crashes that took the lives of two young men overnight Wednesday, although alcohol may have contributed to one of the accidents, a sheriff’s official said. James Pitchford, 18, and Karim Fazelat, 21, both of Mission Viejo, were killed hours apart in separate single-vehicle accidents, said O.C. Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino.

Pitchford was in a Subaru sport utility vehicle driven by Tyler Ferguson, 18, who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following the rollover accident about 1 a.m. Wednesday in Rancho Santa Margarita, Amormino said. The Subaru hit a curb and overturned on Antonio Parkway at Tijeras Creek, throwing Pitchford out and causing “massive trauma,” Amormino said.

Ferguson, who was also thrown from the vehicle, suffered minor injuries, Amormino said.

Fazelat was killed about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday when the Honda CRX he was driving crashed into a utility pole. He was eastbound in the 28400 block of Los Alisos Boulevard in Mission Viejo, Amormino said, and may have been going as fast as 100 mph.