ANAHEIM -- A 26-year-old Diamond Bar man and a 24-year-old Long Beach woman were killed in a wrong-way collision early Wednesday morning on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim, the LA Times and multiple other news outlets reported. According to news accounts, 21-year-old Anthony Louis Fragoso, 21, of South Gate, was driving west in the eastbound 91 carpool lane at about 12:50 a.m.
As Fragoso approached the off-ramp at Harbor Boulevard, he collided head on with at 2006 Toyota Scion. The driver of the Scion, Alan Reyes, 26, was ejected onto the freeway.
Both Reyes and his passenger, Vanessa Cease, 24, of Long Beach, died at the scene of the crash.
Fragoso suffered major injuries in the collision and was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange. He was arrested at the hospital charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. All lanes of the freeway were closed for about three hours while the California Highway Patrol Investigated.
Our condolences go out to the families of the two young victims, and everyone who knew them and loved them. Please keep their families in your prayers during this surely very difficult time.
Cause of the Orange County Accident
The CHP is investigating why Fragoso was driving the wrong direction. At this point, it has not been confirmed whether Fragoso was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Regardless, he was driving on the freeway in the wrong direction, and this act of negligence took the lives of two people. Fragoso may face further charges for driving under the influence if blood tests come back positive for drugs or alcohol.
Wrong-Way Driving Wrongful Death Liability
This accident is tragic and heartbreaking. While some head-on collisions are caused by driver inattentiveness or unsafe passing maneuvers, wrong-way head-on collisions such as this one are very often due to intoxicated or impaired driving. After fatal wrong-way collisions such as this one, the family members of the victims may benefit from speaking with a California wrongful death lawyer. In addition to criminal charges for grossly negligent driving, the driver may also be financially liable for the wrongful deaths of the victims, including funeral and burial expenses, lost anticipated lifetime earnings, and loss of love, care affection and companionship. In some cases, where the at-fault driver shows deliberate disregard for the safety of others, punitive damages may be available.
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