Passenger In Car Attempting To Elude Police Killed In Garden Grove Crash

GARDEN GROVE (CBSLA.com) — A wild-driving motorist was suspected of felony evading and hit-and-run for starting a chase on the freeway on Sunday that ended in a fiery and deadly crash into a pole in Garden Grove.

The suspect driver was identified as Dagoberto Orepeza, 29, of Santa Ana, the CHP said.

A passenger inside Oropeza's speeding black Honda Accord was killed as the car crashed into a utility pole and burst into flames, at about 1:30 a.m. on Chapman Avenue about a mile west of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.

California Highway Patrol officers say they attempted to stop a speeding Accord on the northbound 5 Freeway, approaching the "Orange Crush" junction of the 5, 22 and 57 freeways, said CHP Officer Tino Olivera.

Oropeza allegedly speed away up the 5, and while exiting at Chapman Avenue the car crashed into a black Toyota Camry. No one was injured inside the Camry, Olivera said, and the Honda driver sped west on Chapman.

After about a mile, in the city of Garden Grove, Orepeza lost control of his car. It smashed into a utility pole just west of Gail Lane, Olivera said.

"As soon as he crashed, the CHP and Garden Grove police officers were right behind him," Olivera said.

The Honda caught fire and the lawmen were able to extricate Orepeza, who had major injuries, and two passengers. A third passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

A female passenger was rushed to an area hospital with major injuries and a male passenger escaped with moderate injuries.

It was not immediately known if Orepeza was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Olivera said.

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