Crash takes woman’s life

A 19-year-old Laguna Beach woman was killed in an early morning crash on Laguna Canyon Road between the dog park and animal shelter.

Jamie Verst, 19, was driving south in a 1998 maroon-colored Honda Civic at an unknown speed when she apparently veered into the north lane and was hit on the passenger side by a 27-foot delivery truck driven by Higinio Soto, 53, of Orange, according to a preliminary police investigation into the accident.

The crash happened at about 3:50 a.m. Thursday in the 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Road.

Soto was uninjured, while Verst was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a news release.

Police were alerted to the accident by motorists and residents making 911 calls. A Laguna Beach police officer on his way to work also came upon the accident and reported it.

Laguna Canyon Road was closed by police immediately following the accident, and did not reopen until 9:15 a.m.