Investigators: Alcohol Appears Involved In PCH Crash That Killed 2, Injured 3 Others
DANA POINT (CBSLA.com) — Investigators believe alcohol was likely a factor in a deadly crash Sunday that killed two people and seriously injured 3 others.
The 4-car accident happened about 1:22 p.m. on the Pacific Coast Highway at Beach Road, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
A 43-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman driving in a white Volkswagen Jetta were declared dead at the scene, according to Captain Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority.
The pair were reportedly a married couple with a 10-month-old baby at home.
According to Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock, the 43-year-old driver of the Jetta was attempting to pass a student driver in the northbound lane on PCH when he crashed into a van driving southbound. The accident occurred on a stretch of PCH with a single lane in each direction.
Lt. Jeff Hallock said the victims' names would not be released until investigators confirm their identities through fingerprint records. The identification process was expected to be completed Tuesday.
A 50-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man in a gray Honda, and a 53-year-old woman in a van suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Mission Trauma Center, Concialdi said.
The 15-year-old student driver suffered minor injuries and was released to his parents. His passenger, a driving instructor, was unharmed, according to Hallock.
Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to confirm if alcohol was involved.
RELATED STORY: Parents Killed, 3 People Seriously Injured In 4-Vehicle Crash On PCH In Dana Point
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