The 52-year-old man who died when his 2003 Ford van veered off the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway in Costa Mesa, overturned and hit a light pole was identified as a transient who had been living in the van, the Orange County coroner’s office said Monday.
The man was identified as Joel Lopez, Supervising Deputy Coroner Erica Arellano said.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, on the northbound side of the freeway south of Bristol Street. It was reported at 11:35 p.m. Friday, CHP Officer R. Maahs said.
“For reasons yet to be determined, the vehicle left the roadway and overturned, where it collided with a light pole,” Maahs said, adding that neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to have been factors.