Teen Crash: Unlicensed Driver Took Relative's Car, Officials Say

Originally posted at 12:59 p.m. Oct. 6, 2014. Edited to correct typos.

Officials revealed few details at a press conference today to discuss the early Saturday morning crash on the Interstate 5 that took the lives of five South Orange County teenagers.

California Highway Patrol Capt. Joe Lundy said it is far too early in the investigative stages to discuss the details of what led up to the accident.

“The investigation is in its infancy,” he said. ”Please be patient with us.”

Assistant Chief John Antillon would not speculate as to whether driver and lone survivor Bradley Morales, 16, of Laguna Niguel would face charges.

“The most important thing is to gather the facts of what occurred that night, and whatever happens later on is yet to be determined. But we’re very early in the investigation, and I think it’s only fair that we conduct a fair, thorough investigation and let the facts bear out at the end.”

Here’s what’s new:

Morales is continuing to recover from his injuries, Antillon said. He was able to communicate somewhat at the scene of the 2:12 a.m. Saturday accident after the white 1995 BMW flew off the freeway and became fully engulfed in flames.

Morales does not have a driver’s license and the car he was driving does appear to belong to a family member, though officials are not sure of the exact relation.

At this time, it does not appear drugs and alcohol were a factor in the single-car crash, Antillon said. Investigators have not determined how fast the car was traveling, although “speed certainly is a concern for us.”

CHP investigators are calling for any witnesses, who saw the car either before, during or after the accident to contact them. The number to the Santa Ana office is (714) 567-6000.

The Orange County Trauma Intervention Team has been tending to the families, and the Capistrano Unified School District is sending in resources and psychologists from the Orange County Department of Education and Irvine Unified throughout the district, wherever students and staff are in need, said Julie Hatchel, assistant superintendent of elementary schools for CUSD.

Another candlelight vigil is planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Carl Hankey K-8 in Mission Viejo, where Brandon Moreno attended eighth grade.

Also lost in the accident were Alejandro (Alex) Sotelo, 14, a freshman at Capo Valley and resident of San Juan Capistrano; Mathew Melo, 15, a freshman at Capo Valley and resident of Mission Viejo; Jenny Campos, age unknown, a freshman at Laguna Hills High School and resident of Aliso Viejo; and, Jenny Bahena, age unknown, a freshman at Laguna Hills High. Both girls played on the school’s water polo team.

“This is an emotional day for everyone. We expect that this will continue for several days, even weeks,” Hatchel said.

The most important thing for children struggling with the loss of friends and classmates is to be able to express their emotions, she added.

Catch up with all the crash-related news on Patch:

• 5 Teens Die in Fiery Crash on I-5 -- Updated, 3 Boys ID’d by Soccer Coach
• Victims of I-5 Crash Went to Mission Viejo Schools
• Candlelight Vigil Planned at Capo Sunday for Crash Victims
• Driver in Irvine Crash that Killed 5 Teens Identified
• Candlelight Vigil: ‘We’re All Together. We’re Going to Get Through This. I have No Words’

PHOTO CHP Assistant Chief John Antillon in front of the Santa Ana office. Patch photo credit: Penny Arévalo

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