Driver Slams Into Cars, Pedestrians, Bicyclists In San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Four people were hurt in a dramatic San Clemente crash on Sunday. One of the four was at first thought to have died when the driver of a pickup lost control and crashed through a median barrier and hit four vehicles before slamming into the injured people, an Orange County sheriff's spokeswoman said. The condition of that patient, who was airlifted from the scene, was not known as of this report.

The intersection of Camino de Los Mares near Avenida Vaquero was closed for hours following the crash which occurred at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, according to spokeswoman Carrie Braun.

The pickup driver, a man in his 30s, was heading east on Camino de Los Mares at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed the median barrier on the four-lane road, Braun said. "The driver then hit a pole before crashing into a parked car," she said.

The momentum of the crash then sent the truck slamming into three more parked vehicles before hitting two bicyclists and a pedestrian.

The two bicyclists, pedestrian and pickup driver were injured in the crash, according to OCSD. Orange County Fire Authority medics took all of the injured people, including the driver of the truck, to nearby hospitals for treatment.

"Two elderly patients were taken to Mission Hospital in a ground ambulance, and one trauma patient was airlifted to UCI in the OCFA Helicopter," a department spokesperson said.

The sheriff's accident reconstruction team worked at the scene until about 10:10 p.m. There was no word if the driver will be cited, she said.

OCSD Photo