Fiery Ortega Highway Crash Kills 1, Injures Another In South OC

RANCHO MISSION VIEJO, CA — A person died and a second was injured after a fiery crash on Ortega Highway in Rancho Mission Viejo Thursday, June 30, the Orange County Sheriff's Department reported.

Deputies were dispatched to the scene on the Ortega Highway at around 2:17 a.m. and found two vehicles involved in a crash, with one vehicle on fire.

According to authorities, the flames spread to nearby brush and prompted crews to simultaneously attack both the vehicle and the brush fires while assessing the scene for victims.

One person was found dead and firefighters treated and took a second patient to a local hospital. Crews were also able to hold the brush fire at under an acre, according to reports.

Their identities were not released and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

No further information was immediately available.