Police Officer Dies in Solo-Car Crash

A solo-car crash killed an off-duty Costa Mesa police officer after the car he was driving slammed into a cement column beneath a freeway overpass in Costa Mesa Tuesday night. Reports from the scene stated that the officer later died at the hospital.

At 10:22 p.m. the collision was reported to have occurred beneath the 55 Freeway on Bristol Street near Newport Avenue, Sgt. Jerry Hildeman of the Costa Mesa Police told reporters. When authorities arrived on the scene they noticed that the driver was the sole occupant of the wrecked Honda Accord.

The vehicle that was driven by the off-duty police officer crashed against a support column beneath the Costa Mesa Freeway.

Hildeman told reporters that the sole occupant of the vehicle, an officer whose name has not yet been released, was immediately transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana with serious injuries.

Later while at the hospital the seriously injured officer was declared dead. According to reports, the officer was a 30-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Wednesday morning the flag outside the Costa Mesa Police Department swayed with the winds at half-staff, and officers wore badges with black bands in mourning.

Costa Mesa police and fire departments were at the crash site early Wednesday morning investigating the accident.  The Newport Beach Police Department watch commander, per reporters, stated that Newport Beach police were called to assist in the crash investigation.

The car wreck remains under investigation under the collaboration of the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police departments. They will have to get the results of autopsy reports to determine if the deceased officer was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The investigation will also show if a preexisting medical condition, if there was one, may have been the caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle before it crashed against a pillar.

Automobile accidents can happen to anyone at any time, and without warning. It is taught at various driving schools that a vehicle should be handled with care as it is similar in nature to a 2 ton metal weapon, which at high speeds can prove to have a seriously fatal outcome.

Collisions are costly. Insurance companies or people responsible for having caused them don’t always want to accept full responsibility for the financial or emotional damage they may have caused victims of a car crash. At AA Accident Attorneys we have experience with such situations and have a 98% success rate in recovering damages incurred to our clients. Contact us if you need a Los Angeles car accident lawyer or locate a car accident attorney in your area for a free consultation. Call today!

 

 

 

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