Firefighters use jaws of life to pull man from vehicle after alleged joyride, 3 hospitalized

Three people were hospitalized Saturday night following a collision on Harbor Boulevard that led firefighters to use the jaws of life to extricate a driver from a crumpled vehicle, officials reported Monday.

Costa Mesa police believe the collision may have been caused by a 28-year-old man who allegedly took his roommate’s black Honda sedan without permission and was observed by witnesses running multiple red lights at a high rate of speed on Harbor Boulevard prior to the collision.

CMPD spokeswoman Roxi Fyad confirmed Monday that officers arrested Costa Mesa resident Eric Stockstill for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Stockstill was transported to a nearby trauma center following the crash.

An SUV was one of two vehicles involved in a collision Saturday night near Harbor Boulevard and South Coast Drive that caused three people to be hospitalized.

(Courtesy of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue)

The incident occurred at around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, when officers were called out to the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and South Coast Drive, according to Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Capt. Joe Noceti.

Noceti said responders found the Honda and a white SUV near the intersection, both with drivers and at least one passenger trapped inside. Firefighters pulled Stockstill out of the sedan using the jaws of life.

Two people inside the second vehicle were able to crawl out of the wreckage on their own, Noceti said Monday. They sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated for minor injuries.

Firefighters use the jaws of life Saturday to extricate a man from his vehicle near Harbor Boulevard and South Coast Drive.

(Courtesy of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue)

Fyad said Stockstill allegedly took the car from his roommate at around 9 p.m. Saturday. The roommate did not give permission and reportedly “felt threatened” by him, according to police.

Stockstill was arrested on a felony charge but Fyad said Monday it will be up to the district attorney’s office to file formal charges.

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