Driver Dies in Costa Mesa Freeway Crash, but Passenger, Baby Survive

A driver was killed early Saturday when her car slammed into a freeway divider, but an 11-month-old girl in a car seat and another passenger wearing a seat belt were uninjured, the California Highway Patrol said.

Debra Pardore, 38, of Costa Mesa was driving south in the car-pool lane of the Costa Mesa Freeway south of Katella Avenue in Orange about 12:50 a.m. when the accident occurred, the dispatcher said. A pickup truck in the next lane swerved into the car-pool lane, according to the dispatcher.

The pickup, driven by Ronald Burkett, 30, of Anaheim, struck Pardore’s car, which went out of control and crashed into the center divider, the dispatcher said. The pickup also hit the wall.

Pardore, who was wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Two passengers, Christal Foster, 11 months old, and Richard Foster, 35, were uninjured because of their car seat and seat belt, the CHP said.

Burkett sustained moderate injuries and was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. His vehicle, a 1978 Datsun pickup truck, sustained major damage, according to the CHP.