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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Accidents

Funeral and church services set for the three girls killed by a hit and run driver on Halloween

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Memorial for Lexi Perez and Lexandra Perez and their friend Andrea Gonzalez

Funeral and church services for the three girls killed by a hit and run driver in north Santa Ana on Halloween have been set, according to information posted at the makeshift memorial that neighbors and friends and family of the deceased have erected on  the 1400 block of East Fairhaven Avenue near Jacaranda Street.

A rosary for Andrea Gonzalez will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday at Holy Family Cathedral, with services scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, which is located at 566 S. Glassell St. in Orange.  Gonzalez’ family is welcoming all who want to come to the service to attend.

A wake for twin sisters Lexi and Lexandra Perez Huerta, will be held tonight, Friday, from 6-9 p.m., at Funeraria del Angel, which is also known as MacDougall Family Mortuary, located at 1610 E. First St., in Santa Ana, with services scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, located at 1322 E. Third St., in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Two elderly pedestrians struck by an OCTA bus in Downtown Santa Ana

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Elderly man and a woman hit by an OCTA bus in Santa Ana

Photo courtesy of Anthony Bertagna, SAPD

Two elderly pedestrians were hospitalized after being hit by an OCTA bus in Santa Ana around 6:30 pm, on Wednesday, at the intersection of 4th and Ross streets, according to Anthony Bertagna with the Santa Ana Police Department, according to KABC.

One of the victims, described as a man in his 70s, was in critical condition with head trauma, and his female companion, a woman in her 60s was in serious condition but expected to survive, according to Bertagna, as reported by KTLA. Continue reading→

Memorial fund set up by the City for the families of the Halloween hit and run victims

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Memorial for Lexi Perez and Lexandra Perez and their friend Andrea Gonzalez

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: CITY OF SANTA ANA ESTABLISHES MEMORIAL FUND TO BENEFIT THE FAMILIES OF LEXI AND LEXANDRA PEREZ AND ANDREA GONZALEZ

SANTA ANA, CA (November 4, 2014) – Many concerned employees and residents have expressed interest in donating to the families of Lexi and Lexandra Perez and Andrea Gonzalez. In response to this, the City has set up a memorial fund to help the families of the three victims.

PAYROLL DEDUCTION: Employees have the option to donate directly from their paycheck with either a lump sum or extended donations for one month, two months or longer. To donate directly from your paycheck, please contact Payroll. Continue reading→

SAPD police officers chase a homicide suspect who ends up crashing in Anaheim

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OC Sheriff Badge

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

Homicide Investigation Leads to Pursuit and Fiery Crash

TUSTIN, Calif. – (November 4, 2014) – On Monday, November 3, 2014 at approximately 7:00 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 18400 block of Warren Avenue for a report of a shooting.  Deputies arrived and discovered a female adult, suffering from a gunshot wound.  The female victim was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased.  Homicide investigators responded and initiated an investigation of the incident.

During the preliminary stages of the homicide investigation, information was learned involving a white SUV vehicle that may have been related to the shooting.  Information about the vehicle, license plate and connection to the homicide, was provided to neighboring law enforcement agencies.  The Santa Ana Police Department located and attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle.  The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, terminating with a single vehicle collision with a wall on North Rio Vista Street at East Frontera Street in the city of Anaheim. The vehicle erupted into flames on impact with the wall, killing the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.   Continue reading→

Herbert Calderon arrested for fatal DUI collision on Bristol and Central

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Santa Ana Crime Scene

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Traffic Investigation- fatal collision Bristol/Central driver arrested DUI

ARRESTED: Herbert Granados Calderon (23) Santa Ana

On 10/25/14 at approximately 2121 hours, officers responded to a traffic collision at Bristol St. and Central Av. Officers arrived on scene and located three vehicles that were involved in the collision. Each vehicle had multiple passengers and there were several injuries. Paramedics further determined that an 18 year old male passenger in a Honda had been killed in the collision.

A Lexus traveled southbound on Bristol St. and failed to stop at the red light at Central Av. The Lexus broadsided a Honda and the force of that collision caused the Honda to collide with a Chevrolet pick-up truck. Continue reading→

American Apparel to pay $1M for accident that killed an employee in Garden Grove

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Sewing machine accident

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: September 9, 2014

Case # 30-2014-00741129-CU-BT-CJC

AMERICAN APPAREL TO PAY $1 MILLION FOR ENDANGERING EMPLOYEES BY FAILING TO PROVIDE SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT

*Unsafe environment resulted in 2011 death of employee

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) obtained a $1 million settlement in a civil suit against American Apparel (USA), LLC, for failing to provide a safe work environment, which resulted in the death of an employee at an American Apparel Orange County worksite. The final judgment was received today and signed Aug. 26, 2014, in the Superior Court of California in Orange County by the Honorable David T. McEachen.

This case was referred to the OCDA by the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), which protects workers from health and safety hazards in California workplaces. Deputy District Attorney Kelly Roosevelt of the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit prosecuted this case. Continue reading→

Santa Ana hit and run driver faces more charges as a victim has died

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Guillermo Velasquez Flores

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Victim-Passenger in 9-1-2014 hit and run investigation passed away this morning, amended charges requested

Victim: Maria Rodriguez (56) Orange – No photo available

The passenger from Monday’s Hit and Run Collision intersection of North Broadway and West Santa Ana Boulevard, Maria Rodriguez (56) Orange passed away this morning. Investigators have contacted the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and requested that charges for suspect Guillermo Velasquez Flores (45) Santa Ana be amended. DDA Cornwell assigned to the case. Continue reading→

SAPD looking for DTSA hit and run vehicle

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Santa Ana Hit and Run Accident

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Investigation looking for information on hit and run vehicle

On 9/01/2014, officers responded to the scene of a traffic collision involving a sport utility vehicle and a passenger car at the intersection of North Broadway and West Santa Ana Boulevard.

At about 1852 hours, a 2000 Nissan Xterra driven by the registered owner was traveling north on Broadway with his wife riding as passenger. As the Nissan drove through the intersection at Santa Ana Boulevard, it was struck by a passenger car traveling west on Santa Ana Boulevard. Continue reading→

Passenger dies in BMW crash at First and the 5 Fwy.

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Picture of a "Bryan Meza" from Rancho Santa Margarita, found on MySpace

Picture of a “Bryan Meza” from Rancho Santa Margarita, found on MySpace

On Saturday, June 21st, 2014 at 2:06 am, patrol officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle traffic collision at the intersection of 1st Street at the I-5 freeway. The first officer to arrive reported that the vehicle had two trapped/injured occupants and requested the assistance of OCFA and Medics, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

The vehicle involved was a black 2001 BMW 325i sport sedan. Firefighters were required to utilize heavy equipment to extricate the driver. The passenger of the BMW was pronounced dead at the scene by Medics. The Driver was transported to the Western Medical Center in critical condition. There was preliminary information that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Bryan Meza, 21, of Rancho Santa Margarita, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Orange County Coroner’s Office. Continue reading→

Orange County Sheriff’s Department operation aims to improve motorcycle safety

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OC Sheriff's Department

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Operation Aims To Improve Motorcycle Safety

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (May 22, 2014) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on May 25, 2014 in an effort to lower motorcycle deaths and injuries.

Extra deputies will be on duty patrolling areas where motorcycle accidents frequently occur and looking for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will also be cracking down on those operating both regular vehicles and motorcycles that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making illegal turns and any other dangerous violation. Continue reading→

Mother’s Day weekend started with a gang shooting and a DUI crash into a cop car

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Brother of Santa Ana shooting victim

Brother of Santa Ana shooting victim

Santa Ana residents rang in Mother’s Day weekend with a gang-related shooting in front of a house and a DUI crash into an SAPD cop car.

Santa Ana police Cmdr. Jason Viramontes said the shooting happened in the 4700 block of West Oakfield Avenue about 11:45 a.m. after a man driving a gray, newer model pickup truck drove past three men standing in front of a home. After some looks were exchanged, the truck made a u-turn and pulled up in front of the house, he said. The driver asked the men where they were from and fired eight to nine shots with a handgun, hitting two of them several times in their lower bodies before speeding off, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

LAPD officer Roberto Sanchez, from Santa Ana, killed in hit and run crash

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Officer Roberto Sanchez RIP

An LAPD officer, Roberto Sanchez, 32, of Santa Ana, was killed, and another officer was critically wounded, after an SUV crashed into the driver’s side of a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car in Harbor City on May 3, 2014., police said, according to KTLA News.

Sanchez was driving the police cruiser. He was taken to Harbor UCLA Medical Center in critical condition following the crash. according to ABC News. Continue reading→

Woman who ran a red light struck a child at 17th and Cabrillo Park Dr.

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Suray Leon

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Traffic Division Investigators continue to investigate serious injury traffic collision

On 03/30/14 at approximately 1843 hours, a 10 year old child was walking with his adult brother in the crosswalk at 17th St. and Cabrillo Park Dr. As they crossed the street, a female driving a 2008, Ford, F150, pick-up failed to stop at a red light as she traveled westbound on 17th St. in the number one lane and struck the child in the crosswalk. The child was thrown approximately 100 feet and landed in the westbound traffic lanes of 17th St.

OCFA Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the child to the hospital where he remains with life threatening injuries. The female driver identified as Suray Leon (33), Santa Ana resident remained at the scene and was cooperative during the entire investigation. During the investigation it was determined that Leon the vehicles driver was under the influence of alcohol and she was arrested and booked at Santa Ana PD Jail for felony DUI. Continue reading→

Distracted driver to face trial for car crash that killed a woman on the 405

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Jorene Ypanto Nicolas

Jorene Ypanto Nicolas

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12WF0170: March 31, 2014

DISTRACTED FREEWAY DRIVER TO FACE TRIAL FOR KILLING MOTORIST BY CRASHING AT 80 MPH INTO CAR STOPPED IN TRAFFIC

SANTA ANA – An inattentive driver faces trial tomorrow for killing a motorist by crashing into the victim’s car at approximately 80 mph after failing to notice that traffic had come to a stop. Jorene Ypanto Nicolas, 31, San Diego, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if convicted. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on April 27, 2011, Nicolas is accused of speeding northbound on Interstate 405 near Edwards Street in a Toyota Prius. She is accused of being distracted and inattentive while driving and failing to notice that the traffic ahead had come to a complete stop. Continue reading→