A 7-year-old girl was killed and her 13-year-old sister was critically injured in a multi-vehicle collision on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Seal Beach Monday that resulted in the arrest of a driver on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said.
The girls’ father — 49-year-old Donald Geddis of Hillsborough — was also injured in the 9:22 a.m. collision involving three vehicles on the northbound San Diego Freeway, just north of Seal Beach Boulevard, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Joy.
The 7-year-old was pronounced dead at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and her sister was in critical condition, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.
Geddis was admitted to the same hospital in moderate condition, he said. The girls’ names were not immediately released.
Adam Kanas, 36, of San Clemente, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Joy said.
Kanas was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe north in the fast lane when he swerved into a carpool lane, Joy said.
Geddis, who was driving a 2015 Tesla Model S, was in the carpool lane at a “near stop” behind a 2012 Honda Civic, Joy said.
The Tahoe slammed into the rear of the Tesla, which crashed into the Civic, Joy said.
A CHP officer was en route to the area before the crash because of reports of an impaired driver behind the wheel of a Tahoe, the CHP reported.
Two off-duty Los Angeles County firefighters and two Costa Mesa firefighters, who were taking a truck in for service, stopped and helped extricate the victims from the Tesla, Concialdi said. They had to get the victims out through the front of the car, he added.
“All of the firefighters’ hearts are breaking for that family,” Concialdi said.
Kanas insisted on being taken to an area hospital for evaluation, Joy said.
–City News Serivce