Man Arrested in Fatal Costa Mesa Crash
COSTA MESA — A 20-year-old man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony drunk driving after his car collided into another head-on, killing one man and injuring three others, including himself.
Police formally arrested Jaime Fernandez of Costa Mesa at UCI Medical Center in Orange, but did not take him into custody pending further investigation, said Costa Mesa Police communications Officer Becky Fisher.
The accident occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Friday in front of Estancia High School in the 2300 block of Placentia Avenue. Police said Fernandez was allegedly speeding southbound on Placentia when his car drifted over the dividing line.
An oncoming car tried to swerve out of his way, but the vehicles crashed head-on, demolishing both, Fisher said.
The driver of the other vehicle, Jaime Mendoza Urquiza, 22, of Costa Mesa, died at the scene. His passengers, Manual Dimas Ayla, 39, of Costa Mesa, suffered severe injuries, and Raul Tellez, 18, of Santa Ana suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Fernandez suffered head and leg injuries and was in stable condition at UCI.
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