Woman crashes into photo studio

Talk about a lucky break.

In what could easily have been a much more serious crash, a local woman’s speedy right turn on Santa Ana Avenue in Costa Mesa steered her straight into a photography studio, police said.

Mercedes Castellanos-Constantino, 46, was cited for driving without a license Wednesday afternoon after police said she drove her car into Belle Amie Studios, 1720 Santa Ana Ave., while making a right turn into an adjacent driveway.

The store owner said that the crash occurred during the only time slot during the entire month when her studio was empty.

Castellanos-Constantino was treated for injuries at the scene and released. No one else was injured and police said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash.

— Joseph Serna