Two Major Traffic Accidents Within Hours of Each Other ... Sad! (Irvine: 2014, home)

[Twinkle Toes]

I saw the news about the Chino accident before I went to bed last night. I woke up and read the news online to see if there were any updates on the accident - how it happened, etc., and was shocked to read that another accident had taken place in Irvine hours later in which 5 teenagers returning from Knott's Scary Farm were killed. At first I thought it was the same accident, but one report said Chino and another said Irvine. I thought the articles just misstated the cities. No, unfortunately, there were two separate accidents that killed a whole bunch of young people. Very sad.

Five Dead in Fiery Chino Crash | NBC Southern California

Five Teens Killed When Returning Home From Knott's Scary Farm | NBC Southern California


Where I live, we had a couple of fatal accidents back to back recently.

Two double-fatal Palm Springs car crashes in a week


Lately it seems as though the worst accidents come in pairs. It's really sad, especially when a bunch of young people are killed.

[Des-Lab]

I know exactly where the Irvine "accident" occurred. I put "accident" in quotes because...it wasn't an accident. If what I THINK happened IS what happened, the driver...assuming he himself survives, can expect to be charged with five counts of homicide.

I know the area in question quite well. At that time, it's dark. Traffic is very sparse. And that "reverse S" shaped curve just past Sand Canyon right at the 133 is a tricky piece of highway geometry. Especially if you aren't all that familiar with it. Or not paying attention. This comes right off about 5 or 6 miles of almost runway straight pavement.

And I'll bet that's most likely what happened. He was doing 100+ with all his buddies in the dark and light traffic and either A) forgot about that curve and just rolled right off. Or B) saw it too late and overcorrected and...rolled right off.

[ccm123]

Many people don't take driving as a serious matter! This is the result!

[saibot]

I just found out the details about the Irvine accident, but I knew something bad happened. This morning we got on the 5 northbound at the 133 (heading to the Auto Show). The southbound traffic was completely stopped all the way back to Red Hill. Then, we passed a tow truck on the shoulder of the freeway. The driver had stopped and looked to be adjusting the chains. The car was slightly flattened and completely burnt out...I was driving and didn't get a good look, but my husband said, "Hey, that was an BMW!" I didn't put the two together at the time but...

We got home later in the afternoon and saw the story about the crash...so sad! And I understand the 16-year-old driver was the only survivor. Of course he shouldn't have been driving other teens around and especially not at 2 am, but can you imagine the guilt he will live with for the rest of his life?! And the families of the other kids... I have a 15-year-old and I don't even want to imagine what they are going through.

[mateo45]

And "street racing" was reported in connection with the Chino accident. Remember how at that age we always think we're indestructible and gonna live forever!