In the early morning of March 3rd, a 10-minute high speed police chase in Newport Beach ended in a fatal car crash. The 29-year-old male driver died on the scene, his female passenger was rushed to the hospital with major injuries. The Mercedes AMG sports car was ripped in two after colliding with a palm tree at high speeds.
The man and woman were apparently involved in an altercation at a local bar around 1 a.m. and quickly left in a Mercedes AMG before the authorities could arrive. The Newport Beach police briefly pursued the vehicle heading south on Balboa Boulevard on the Newport Beach Peninsula, but lost sight after the sports car reached around 100 mph.
The authorities continued the pursuit after the driver turned around on the Balboa Peninsula. The police spotted the vehicle heading back north on Balboa Boulevard. Shortly after that, the driver lost control during a high-speed turn.
The accident occurred on Balboa Blvd. and 23rd St. in Newport Beach, CA. Debris from the crash was found hundreds of feet from the accident. Parts of the engine flew into a parked SUV 100 feet away and police report finding a tire 200 feet from the accident.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) ended up having to close several streets in the area to investigate the crash. Balboa Boulevard between 22nd and 24th streets, 23rd Street just west of Oceanfront, Oceanfront between 21st and 23rd streets, and 22nd and 24th streets in both directions were closed for the investigation.
The California Highway Patrol is handling the investigation because it involved an unsuccessful attempt by police officers to stop the car chase resulting in a fatality.
The identity of the two people involved in the crash has not been disclosed. The female passenger was taken to OC Global Medical Center in Santa Ana to be treated for a concussion and fractured ankle.
It’s not certain whether drugs or alcohol played any part in the high-speed crash. Fortunately, no one else was injured. Speeding continues to be the number one cited driver-related factor in fatal highway crashes.
For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. Speeding significantly lowers your reaction time and increases your chances of getting involved in a fatal accident.
Speed limits and road laws are in place to keep drivers and pedestrians safe and when people ignore the laws, they not only endanger themselves but everyone else on the road with them. If it seems that there are more cases of dangerous behavior on the road now than in the past, that’s because there are more drivers driving more miles on the same roads than ever before. As Orange County continues to grow, it more important than ever to stay safe while you’re driving and know who you can call if you or a loved one were involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Chudleigh Law P.C. is an Orange County based law firm that helps victims that have been seriously injured in automobile, trucking, motorcycle, and all types of motor vehicle accidents. Hiring the right lawyer can make a huge difference in an accident involving serious injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact an experienced Orange County car accident attorney today.
Disclaimer: As the result of secondary sources used to complete this post, Chudleigh Law P.C. has not independently verified all facts. If you read something that in inaccurate please contact us and we will correct the inaccuracy. As members of the Orange County and the broader Southern California community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover events in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims, and raise awareness to increase the safety of all drivers in Orange County, CA. However, this information should not be construed as legal advice.
