Unsafe Lane Change Triggers Fatal Seal Beach Crash

SEAL BEACH, CA- An unsafe lane change on the San Diego (405) Freeway near Long Beach triggered a two-vehicle crash that killed a 72-year-old motorist and left a 70-year-old motorist with minor injuries, authorities said today.

Edmundo Ritarita, of San Diego, was was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroner's office.

The crash was on the southbound 405 Freeway approaching Seal Beach Boulevard at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, according to a California Highway Patrol dispatcher. It involved a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by Ritarita and a 2014 Mercedes Benz C250 driven by a 70-year-old man, whose name was not released.

It was not immediately known which vehicle made the unsafe lane change in either the four or five lane, but the impact caused both vehicles into the dirt shoulder, where the Ford Explorer overturned several times.

Ritarita was pronounced dead at the scene and paramedics rushed the 70- year-old man to an area hospital with minor injuries. The motorists were only people inside their vehicles.

City News Service