Three teenagers lost their lives in a crash early Thursday morning when their sport utility vehicle left the southbound 5 Freeway in Anaheim and hit a concrete pillar, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the Ford Edge departed the roadway near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp around 3:15 a.m. for reasons that remain unclear. The vehicle first struck a wood and metal guardrail, then a concrete pillar, continued onward, collided with a sloped embankment, overturned, and came to rest in vegetation.
Two occupants died at the scene of the crash. The other two were taken to a nearby hospital with major injuries, and one of them was later pronounced dead there.
The Orange County coroner identified the victims as Levi Jacob Flores, 15, of Garden Grove; Robert Miguel Gutierrez-Avalos, 16, of Santa Ana; and Victor Hugo Delgado, 17, of Santa Ana. The remaining survivor is still receiving treatment at the hospital.
CHP investigators determined that none of the occupants were wearing seat belts. A witness account indicated the driver appeared to miss the off-ramp and made a late attempt to exit, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway at high speed and eject two passengers.
The Highway Patrol noted that drugs or alcohol have not been ruled out as possible factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
This report is based on coverage by ABC7 Los Angeles: https://abc7.com/post/3-teenagers-killed-1-hospitalized-crash-suv-veers-off-5-freeway-anaheim/19790556/