New Year's Day Crash Turns Fatal in Dana Point

DANA POINT, CA — A single car accident at the Doheny Park Plaza and PCH turned fatal for a San Juan Capistrano resident on New Year's Day according to Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Early on January 1, investigators with the Major Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the area of PCH and Doheny Park Plaza in Dana Point, in reference a fatal traffic collision, OCSD Lt. Mark Stichter said.

"The sole occupant, a driver of a Volvo, collided with a pole at the intersection of PCH and Doheny Park Plaza," Stichter said.

The driver, Diego Escamilla-Lopez, a 27-year-old resident of San Juan Capistrano, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators spent several hours investigating the scene.

"There is no cause of the accident as the investigation is on-going," Stichter said. "It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved, pending toxicology reports."

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