Coroner IDs Woman Killed In 241 Toll Road Crash, 4 More Injured

ORANGE, CA — An overnight two-vehicle collision left one woman dead and four more injured, officials say. Four people were taken to hospitals to treat their injuries after a Toyota Sequoia SUV and a Nissan Versa collided on the Eastern Transportation Corridor — also known as the 241 toll road— in Orange County.

The driver of the Toyota Sequoia, Michelle Stanford, 52 of Indio, was identified by the Orange County Coroner's Office as the person who died in the collision.

Just before 6:45 p.m. Sunday, both vehicles were traveling northbound at approximately 80 miles per hour, the California Highway Patrol reported. For an unknown reason, the cars "side-swiped each other, causing the subsequent crash.

The Sequoia flipped and ended in the center divider, according to CHP. Three passengers of that car, ages and relation to Stanford not disclosed, were taken by ambulance to two different hospitals. Two males were taken Orange County Global hospital with minor injuries. Also in that vehicle, a female—age not disclosed— was taken Children's Hospital of Orange County with major injuries. Her current condition is not known.

The driver of the Nissan, a 53-year-old woman, struck a guardrail, CHP reported. Paramedics took her to the hospital with minor injuries.

The crash occurred on the toll road near Santiago Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The road was closed for almost an hour as emergency responders worked the scene.

The California Highway Patrol was investigating the cause of the collision as of this report.