Freak Accident At Irvine Spectrum Parking Lot Claims Life Of OC Man

IRVINE, CA — A Laguna Woods man was killed at Irvine Spectrum Center's parking garage Thursday after becoming wedged between his car door and a parking apparatus, police say.

Robert Ray Bell, 88, died at the scene, according to Sgt. Karie Davies of the Irvine Police Department.

At 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Irvine police arrived at the parking structure exit at 100 Spectrum Center Drive, according to Sgt. Karie Davies.

"Arriving officers found the man wedged between the partially open driver's side door and his Mazda SUV, Davies said. A good Samaritan was trying to help him.

"Based on witness statements and video obtained at the scene, the driver approached the security exit gate and stopped to pay," she said. " It appears the driver did not place his Mazda SUV into the park gear because the vehicle began to move forward when the driver was outside the car.

"The open driver's door made contact with parking equipment, causing the driver's door to close on the man," Davies said. "He became trapped between the door and the vehicle and could not free himself."

Police officers and Orange County Fire Authority firefighters worked to save the man, who was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The case remained under investigation by the Major Accident Investigation Team.