Westminster, California — April 27, 2011
Police say three vehicles collided along Interstate 405 near Buckingham Park in Westminster on Wednesday, inflicting one traveler with fatal injuries.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the crash occurred around 10:55 a.m. when traffic heading north along I-405 slowed due to congestion near mile-marker 19, Edwards Street. A motorist behind the wheel of a 2000 Porsche sports car slowed appropriately, as did a Fountain Valley woman, 23, in a 2006 Hyundai, which stopped immediately behind the Porsche.
Investigators say a motorist then approached from the south in a 2006 Toyota and struck the Hyundai from behind. The impact sent the Hyundai forward into the back of the Porsche.
Paramedics transported the Hyundai’s driver to the University of California Irvine Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
Additionally, a male traveler and a female traveler from an unidentified vehicle were transported to hospitals in Fountain Valley and Long Beach for treatment of lesser injuries.
Police restricted traffic along I-405 until roughly 1 p.m.
The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found driver error was the primary cause in 90 percent of major traffic crashes.
UPDATE: Coroners in Orange County have identified the Hyundai driver in the crash as Deanna Mauer, 23. Doctors were unable to revive her and pronounced Ms. Mauer dead roughly seven hours after the crash.
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