New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: suicide

Man lands on a moving OCTA bus after jumping off a parking structure by 4th St. and the 5 Fwy.

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, OCFA, OCTA, Santa Ana 4 Comments

An unidentified man in his mid-20s landed on the roof of a moving OCTA bus at about 10 a.m. this morning, after trying to kill himself by jumping from the top of a five-story parking garage, next to the northbound 5 Freeway at the 1st/4th street exit, according to the O.C. Register.

The man fell about 100 feet before landing on the OCTA bus. The bus driver heard the impact and he saw a portion of the man’s body, as it had crashed through the roof. The bus driver immediately pulled over the bus, which was empty at the time.

Several firefighters from the O.C. Fire Authority used ladders to climb onto the top of the bus where they deployed a Stokes basket to safely lower the victim to the ground. Continue reading→

New report identified risk factors for death by suicide in Orange County

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

OC Health Care Agency Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 14, 2014
Contact: Deanne Thompson, dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

NEW REPORT IDENTIFIES RISK FACTORS FOR DEATH BY SUICIDE IN ORANGE COUNTY

(Santa Ana) – Every year in Orange County about 3,000 people intentionally harm themselves, and about 278 end their lives by suicide. A new study by the Orange County Health Care Agency examines the incidence of suicide in Orange County, and identifies risk factors for suicidal behavior.

“Intentional self-harm is a serious public health problem that has a devastating impact on those affected, including family, friends, and the community,” said Mary Hale, Deputy Agency Director for Behavioral Services at the Orange County Health Care Agency. “Understanding how to address these risk factors and implementing preventive measures will help reduce intentional self-harm and suicide deaths in Orange County.” Continue reading→

Coroner seeks public’s help in identifying man who jumped off 5 Freeway overpass

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Arab Americans, Orange County, Public Safety Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840
EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Coroner Investigators Seeking Public’s Assistance Identifying Descendent

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (July 24, 2014) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Coroner Division is seeking the public’s assistance identifying and locating family of an unidentified male decedent. On Tuesday, July 1, 2014, coroner investigators began conducting a death investigation following the decedent jumping from the Beach Boulevard overpass onto the southbound Interstate 5 freeway.

The unidentified male appears to be of Middle Eastern or Hispanic descent, approximately 50-65 years old. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 183 pounds, gray-brown hair, brown eyes and a short, gray goatee. He had poor oral hygiene with two front canine teeth and recessed gums. Continue reading→

A Santa Ana man fell to his death from a UCI building on Tuesday

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in irvine, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Maxwell Chorak, 25, of Santa Ana has been identified by the Orange County Coroner as the man who fell off the university’s fives story social sciences building on Tuesday afternoon at 4:18 pm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene according to the OC Fire Authority, as reported by the OC Register. Continue reading→

Elderly Santa Ana couple dead in apparent murder-suicide

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana, Seniors Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Homicide Detectives investigate apparent murder-suicide 2100 block 2110 E. Wellington

On Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at about 5:55 p.m., a family member called the police to request they check the welfare of a man and woman who resided at 2110 E. Wellington. Patrol officers entered the home where they found a 78-year-old female, Freda Bryson and 71-year-old male, Michael Worden in a bedroom with gunshots wounds. Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced them both deceased. Continue reading→

Firearm-related injury and death in Orange County

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Guns, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County Health Care Agency

Firearm-Related Injury and Death in Orange County

(Santa Ana) – A new study by the Orange County Health Care Agency examines the prevalence and circumstances around firearm-related incidents in Orange County between 2009 and 2011. During this period, there were 1,292 firearm-related incidents resulting in the death of 439 persons and non-fatal injuries to 853 residents.

Lethal firearm incidents were most often associated with suicides (63%, n=278) and homicides (32%, n=142). Less severe injuries were typically the result of accidental discharges of firearms. Though the overall personal and economic losses associated with these incidents are difficult to measure, the costs associated with hospitalization averaged $16 million per year. Continue reading→

Children found dead at a Santa Ana hotel after a tip from a suicidal woman

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

UPDATE: Santa Ana detectives have arrested the mother of two children found dead in a hotel room Saturday. She is from Arizona, according to CBS News.

A 42-year-old woman whose last known residence was in San Jose intentionally crashed her car behind a Costa Mesa store, and then said something that led the police to investigate a Santa Ana hotel room, where two children were found dead inside, police said Saturday. Police have not disclosed the relationship between the woman and children or how they died, according to the O.C. Register.

As paramedics were preparing to take the injured woman to a hospital, “she made some statements that indicated a crime might have occurred” in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa Sgt. Tim Starn said, according to the AP. Continue reading→

Updated: Saying goodbye to Andrea Hernandez

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 17 Comments

UPDATE: Andrea’s mother, Claudia, is trying to get a VISA so she can come from Mexico to participate in her daughter’s funeral service. Getting a VISA is no easy task but I have put her sister in touch with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez’ office. Pray that they will find a way to make this happen!

The O.C. Register reported on Dec. 2, that “An 18-year-old woman found hanging from a tree at Santiago Park has been identified as Andrea Hernandez, authorities said Friday.”

The Register didn’t report much else – and they didn’t follow up on the story. It bothered me that this young resident of our city left us in that way – and her story has not been told.

Today I visited the site where she was found and saw that a memorial had been set up for her, with flowers, a teddy bear and notes and pictures taped to a tree. It is heartbreaking. Continue reading→