Witness Describes Accident Scene at Parking Lot Death

It seemed to be a weekend of senseless deaths, first a man gets struck by a truck in the Ralphs parking lot on El Camino Real, then a four-car accident claims two lives on Pacific Coast Highway just north of San Clemente.

San Clemente resident Starr Bales was on scene when 46-year-old Paul Michelena was struck by a pick-up.

“I was walking towards the front doors. I didn’t see him get hit. I heard blood curdling screams. I turned around to see what appeared to be poor man on the ground under the truck,” Bales said.

According to authorities, Michelena was walking with his 13-year-old daughter, who was not injured in the incident.

Bales knew it was bad when a passerby-turned-rescuer who seemed to be a firefighter asked if anyone had a jack.

“I realized that it was on his head. I almost vomited,” she said. “It was gut-wrenching. The man never showed any movement.”

In Sunday’s accident, authorities believe a couple in a white Jetta may have tried to pass a slower vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway. The 43-year-old man and 32-year-old woman who perished have yet to be identified. 

Three others were taken to Mission Hospital and a student driver suffered only minor injuries and was released to his parents.