Teenager injured when thrown from car

Deepa Bharath

A 19-year-old Newport Beach man suffered major injuries Thursday night

after he was ejected from a car that crashed. The 17-year-old driver,

police say, was intoxicated.

The incident occurred at 10:08 p.m., when a 1996 Camaro reportedly

veered off San Miguel Drive north of Pacific View Drive, and collided

with several trees.

Erik Friedrickson was thrown out of the car and landed on an

embankment in Harbor View Nature Park, where he was located by police,

officials said.

He was taken by helicopter to UCI Medical Center. Officials said

preliminary reports showed he suffered a concussion, spleen laceration

and various severe cuts.

The 17-year-old, whose name police did not release, was taken into

temporary custody and found to have been intoxicated, officials said. He

was later released to his parents, police said.

Friedrickson’s ejection and other evidence in the car showed he was

not wearing a seat belt, police said. Both speed and alcohol possibly

contributed to the collision, officials said. An investigation of the

incident is underway.