Wrong Way Driver Killed in Head On Crash With Big Rig

A 52 year old woman was killed after driving her car down the wrong side of the road and crashing head on with a big rig Tuesday afternoon in Lake Forest.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the county coroner’s office, Joy Kelly of Lake Forest was driving her silver Mercedes SUV eastbound in the westbound lanes of El Toro road when she crashed into a curb and then directly into an oncoming big rig near Jeronimo Road just before 1 p.m.

At this time it is unknown why Kelly’s vehicle was on the road side of the road, though witnesses reported that the vehicle was riding down the westbound lanes for a long period of time.

The woman was traveling at roughly 50 miles per hour at the time of the collision with the big rig, which was also traveling at similar speeds. Kelly was killed instantly in the impact. The driver of the big rig, a man in his 50s, also suffered moderate injuries and was immediately taken to nearby Mission Hospital.

Shortly after the collision, another vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 driving behind the big rig, swerved to avoid the crash and crashed into the medium of El Toro. She was not injured.

Fire crews were called to the scene to clean up an unknown substance that had spilled out after the accident and to put out a small fire that had started on the big rig.

The violent crash forced a complete closure of El Toro road for more than seven hours to allow for police to investigate the crash and clean up the debris, causing massive traffic through the area, as El Toro is one of the most used roads through the entire city. The road was finally fully reopened at 8 p.m.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a violent wrong way accident like this, you should seek help right away. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to compensation for any damages you have sustained, which we at AA Accident Attorneys can help you recover in full. Our Orange County car accident lawyers are well-trained professionals with years of experience representing cases just like yours.

You need an accident lawyer who is well-versed in all of California’s complicated state laws, and who can successful navigate you through the legal process. We will work hard to represent you both as legal professionals and as citizens who share the same roads and live in the same communities. We do not charge a thing for our services until your case is won. Call us today for your free evaluation to learn what options are available to you!