2 Held in Separate Fatal Car Accidents

Two people died in separate traffic accidents Saturday in which suspected drunk drivers escaped unharmed, authorities said.

One motorist drifted onto the shoulder of Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano and struck and killed a man who had parked his car on the shoulder. In the second incident, a car struck a guardrail on the Orange Freeway and overturned, leaving a passenger dead.

Benny Yeakley, 25, of Capistrano Beach was booked for driving under the influence of alcohol at Orange County Jail after his car ran onto the shoulder of the northbound I-5 near Camino Capistrano and struck Thomas Lopez of the City of Commerce, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Lopez, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lopez had parked his car on the shoulder of the highway and was talking to Richard Lopez, 26, of Montebello, who was also parked on the shoulder. Yeakley’s car first sideswiped Richard Lopez’s car and then struck Lopez, the CHP said.

Richard McFarland, 22, of Garden Grove was booked for drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter after he apparently lost control of his car on the transition road from the southbound Orange Freeway to the I-5.

McFarland’s car, traveling at about 60 m.p.h., hit a guardrail, swerved left and overturned, according to the CHP.

Roger Lueders, 22, of Santa Ana, a passenger, was thrown partly out of the auto and killed.