Santa Ana : 1 Killed, 3 Injured as Car Slams Into Truck

A 19-year-old truck passenger was killed and three people were injured when police said a motorist ran a red light at high speed and slammed into a truck.

The motorist, who suffered a broken neck in the collision at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, has been arrested on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter, police said Thursday.

Santa Ana police said the impact of the crash flipped the truck on its side, pinning Shawn Christoffels of Costa Mesa under its weight. Christoffels was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, Greenville Street and MacArthur Boulevard, Santa Ana Police Lt. Earl Porter said.

The motorist, identified as Angel DeDios Samaniega, 32, of Garden Grove, crossed the intersection, Porter said, at speeds estimated at 60-70 m.p.h.

Samaniega was taken to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, where he was listed Thursday in serious condition with a broken neck and remained under arrest, police said.

The truck’s driver, Charles Reed, 47, of Santa Ana, was treated for head and facial cuts and a concussion at the Fountain Valley hospital and released, police said.

Samaniega’s passenger, Carolina Lopez, 22, also of Garden Grove, was treated for minor injuries at the same hospital and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.