A 22-year-old motorist, apparently drunk, triggered a two-vehicle crash when her car rear ended an SUV on the Orange (57) Freeway in Orange early Saturday morning, the California Highway Patrol said Sunday.
The crash on the southbound Orange (57) Freeway to the westbound Garden Grove (22) Freeway occurred at 1:46 a.m. Saturday, according to a CHP news statement.
Rebecca Munoz, 22, of Santa Ana, was driving a white 2014 BMW 320i that rear ended a silver 2002 Jeep Liberty on the westbound Garden Grove (22) Freeway. The SUV then went over a cement barrier, overturned and landed on its roof on The City Drive westbound onramp, a CHP report said.
A passenger in the SUV, Eric Phan, 34, of Midway City, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the Coroner’s Office.
The driver of the SUV, Neil Raboy, 36, of Huntington Beach, suffered major head trauma injuries and was transported to UCI Medical Center, according to the CHP.
Munoz suffered no injuries, but was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to the news statement.
She was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana. Her court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday at the Central Jail Court.
— City News Service