Costa Mesa Fire Captain Struck By Suspected DUI Driver Dies

MISSION VIEJO, CA —A Costa Mesa fire captain died Monday at Mission Hospital after being left critically injured and unresponsive when he was struck by a car over the weekend, authorities said.

"Our brother, Mike Kreza, passed away early this morning. Words alone cannot describe the immeasurable heartache felt by his friends & family, including his fire family," the fire department said in a statement Monday morning. "RIP brother Mike, we love you!"

His body was escorted from the Mission Viejo hospital to the Orange County Coroner's office Monday morning. A solemn procession of firefighters, police and sheriff's department personnel marked the way, and flags were set to half mast.

Kreza was off duty and training for a triathlon when a suspected drugged driver struck his bicycle at 8 a.m. Saturday, on eastbound Alicia Parkway near Via Burgos, Orange County sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.

The driver, Stephen Taylor Scarpa, 25, of Mission Viejo, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. The van was found with "multiple prescription medications" inside, Braun said.

Scarpa was booked into the Orange County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Kreza was an 18-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Fire department. His fellow firefighters have shared their grief on social media.

"We are eternally grateful for the outpouring of support from our brothers and sisters from fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and the collective communities throughout the state," the Costa Mesa Fire Department said in an earlier statement.

Anyone with information on the crash was asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000 or Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS.

Kreza leaves behind a wife and three daughters.

A GoFundMe fundraiser established for the Costa Mesa Firefighters Association's Widows and Orphans fund has earned over $108,000 in 24 hours, according to the website.

Read Also:

• Injured Fire Captain From Orange County Remains Unresponsive
  
• $56K Raised For 'Critically Injured' Costa Mesa Fire Captain

City News Service with Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig

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Mission Viejo Police Services, Costa Mesa Fire Photo, GoFundMe Photo