Dana Point Driver Dying of Heart Attack Sideswipes Car
LAGUNA BEACH — A 39-year-old Dana Point man died after he apparently had a heart attack while driving and then sideswiped an oncoming car before smashing into a wall, authorities said.
The accident occurred at 7:15 p.m. Friday when Donald C. Crimmings was driving his 1991 Ford Probe southbound in the 400 block of Cliff Drive. Police said his car veered across a double yellow line into northbound traffic and sideswiped a BMW.
Crimmings’ car continued to veer left until it hit a brick retaining wall on the opposite side of the road, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Mike Hall said.
Neighbors who heard the collision ran to help Crimmings, but found that he was not breathing, Hall said. A police officer arrived at the scene and gave Crimmings cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.
Crimmings was taken to South Coast Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.
Investigators at the Orange County coroner’s office said Crimmings died of cardiac arrhythmia due to a heart condition.
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