Ortega Highway Fatal Crash: OC Woman Dies, Man Injured

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — A Tustin woman was killed in a fatal crash on the State Route 74 Ortega Highway and Rancho Carrillo Road, California Highway Patrol officers reported. Maureen Mendoza, 43 of Tustin, died at the scene, CHP Officer Rafael Reynoso told Patch.

At just before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Mendoza was heading east on the Ortega Highway when she "veered from her lane of travel" and entered the westbound lane.

Mendoza's 2006 BMW collided with a 2015 Chevrolet, driven by a Winchester resident. Orange County Fire Authority pronounced her dead at the scene, Reynoso said.

The driver of the Chevrolet sustained "major injuries" as a result of the crash, and was transported to an area hospital.

Drugs and alcohol were not considered factors in the collision, and an investigation is ongoing, according to CHP.

Renee Schiavone Photo