Aldagracia Cruz-Penaloza Fatally Struck after Leaving Car in Crash on 405 Freeway at Harbor Boulevard
COSTA MESA, CA (March 27, 2019) – A woman who got out of her car after a minor collision was killed when another car slammed into her early Wednesday morning in Costa Mesa.
The fatal collision happened around 4:45 a.m. on northbound 405 Freeway at Harbor Boulevard.
The collisions began with a minor crash between two vehicles. The driver and passenger in a 2017 Toyota Corolla got out while it was still in traffic lanes.
The woman driving the Corolla was behind her vehicle when an 2015 Audi SUV, driven by a 43-year-old man, struck her and her car, pushing the Corolla to the right and collided with a 2000 Chevrolet Impala.
The Impala ended up on the Harbor Boulevard off-ramp, where it was hit by a Toyota Prius, CHP officials said.
The Corolla’s driver, identified as a 42-year-old Aldagracia Cruz-Penaloza of Tustin, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cruz-Penaloza’s passenger, her 18-year-old daughter, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The Chevrolet driver was also hospitalized.
The Audi driver was unharmed.
Four to six freeway lanes were shut down for about five hours, and traffic was backed up for more than two miles. All lanes were re-opened roughly around 9:45 a.m.
Further investigation of the incident is underway.
Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Aldagracia Cruz-Penaloza as they try to piece together what happened.
We understand that the aftermath of losing a loved one can be extremely confusing and traumatizing. However, our office has devoted many hours to provide the best representation to our clients, making sure that bereaved families will get what they rightfully deserve. If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by negligence of another party, do not hesitate to contact The Sweet Law Group today. We offer consultations at no charge and we have several locations throughout Northern and Southern California. Call our hotline at (800) 674 7852 for more details.