Crash Kills One, Injures Three

A 30-year-old motorist died and three other people were hospitalized in serious to critical condition after a wrong-way collision between a small sedan and a pickup truck in Santa Ana, in which alcohol may have been a factor, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said the 30-year-old man, who drove a silver 1989 Nissan Sentra, died at the scene of the head-on collision at 1:50 a.m. at the intersection of West McFadden Avenue and South Mohawk Drive, near to the Fountain Valley city limits.

Santa Ana police Sgt. Weber said it appeared the driver was going the wrong way on the 3000 block of West McFadden when the collision occurred.

Police investigators said a black 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickup truck was stopped for the red light on the eastbound left turn pocket of McFadden Avenue at Mohawk Drive, according to a department statement.

The Nissan was westbound on McFadden at a high rate of speed when it drifted into the opposing traffic lane, according to the statement.

A front seat passenger, an unidentified man, was transported to Western Medical Center in serious condition. He was conscious and coherent, according to the statement.

A rear seat passenger, another man, was transported to UCI Medical Center in extremely critical condition, according to the statement. None of the Nissan's occupants were wearing seat belts and open alcohol containers were found at the scene, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

The driver of the pickup, a 48 year-old woman, was also hospitalized in critical condition, Concialdi said.

Police said she was the lone occupant in the pickup truck, according to the statement.

-- City News Service