Fatal Crash Shuts Down Costa Mesa Freeway In OC

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A person died when a vehicle crashed into a right shoulder wall on the California State route 55 Freeway in the City of Orange, authorities said Friday.

The crash was reported at 9:57 p.m. Thursday on the southbound side of the Costa Mesa Freeway near Santa Clara Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A witness told CHP a dark colored vehicle hit the right shoulder wall and was blocking the right lane, according to the traffic logs.

The CHP stopped traffic at Chapman Avenue at 10:03 p.m. and a SigAlert was issued at 10:16 p.m. keeping lanes 3, 4 and 5 closed. Only the far right lane remained closed at 12:16 a.m. Friday.

The Orange County coroner's office was summoned at 10:10 p.m. and Caltrans was notified of the need to repair 100 feet of guardrail.