A two-car crash at Newport Boulevard and East 17th Street early Sunday resulted in the death of one passenger and left two people
injured, police said.
The person killed has been identified as Nacheli Garcia-Torres,
23, of Garden Grove, said Leslie Meader, Orange County supervising
deputy coroner.
Garcia-Torres was a front-seat passenger in a 1987 Acura LS driven
by Jaime Grenado, 21, also of Garden Grove.
Grenado is in police custody on suspicion of drunk driving, said
Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Larry Hicks.
The accident occurred at 6:20 a.m. Sunday. The Acura driven by
Grenado was traveling north on Newport Boulevard and stopped in the
left-turn lane at 17th Street before proceeding to turn left. Police
believe the light was red at the time, Hicks said.
As it made the turn, the Acura was broadsided by a 2003 Chevrolet
Avalanche that was traveling south on Newport Boulevard.
Garcia-Torres was declared dead at the scene of the accident,
Hicks said.
The driver of the Avalanche was not injured.
Grenado is hospitalized in stable condition, Hicks said.
A backseat passenger in the Acura sustained minor head and hip
injuries, Hicks said.
Anyone with information on the accident is asked to contact
traffic investigator Carlos Diaz at (714) 754-5264.
