Mother's Day Tragedy As Woman Killed In Laguna Beach Crash With 2 Children In Car
LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A 31-year-old mother died after a collision in Laguna Beach Sunday.
Authorities say the woman was driving with her 5-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter in the car when she collided with another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction on El Toro Road around 12:30 a.m.
Police say one of the vehicles veered off the center line on the two-lane roadway and the vehicles side swiped one another.
The mother was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo where she was pronounced dead. The children will be OK, authorities say.
All three had to be cut out of the vehicle, reported CBS2's Greg Mills. It took about a half hour.
The driver of the other vehicle, an 86-year-old man, was taken to the hospital in grave condition. The passenger in that vehicle, his wife, was able to walk away from the crash.
Investigators do not believe speed played a factor in the crash. Both cars traveling around 45 mph, the speed limit in the area, according to authorities.
On Sunday evening, the Coroner identified the deceased mother as Sandra Maldonado of Mission Viejo.
"It's tragic, especially on Mother's Day with the two children," Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.
The scene was cleared shortly after 7 a.m. and the roadway re-opened.