Crime & Safety
Transient ID'd In Costa Mesa 55 Fatal Freeway Crash
A man who was living in his 2003 Ford Van died when his vehicle struck a pole off the 55 Freeway over the weekend.
COSTA MESA, CA — The Orange County Coroner's Office identified a 52-year-old transient as having been killed in a collision of the Costa Mesa 55 Freeway, late Friday.
Joel Lopez, who was living in his van, crashed while driving before midnight on Friday. His vehicle rolled over, striking a power pole, the Orange County coroner's office said Monday.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, on the northbound side of the freeway south of Bristol Street, California Highway Patrol Officer R. Maahs said.
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"For reasons yet to be determined, the vehicle left the roadway and overturned, where it collided with a light pole," Maahs said, adding that neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to have been factors.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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