Two Die in Overturned Truck
The coroner’s office identified two passengers who died in a single-vehicle collision while exiting state Route 73 near Laguna Beach on Halloween Night.
Victorino Benites and Esteban Dimas Alonzo, both 42 and residents of Santa Ana, were killed when the vehicle where they were passengers hit a guardrail, said a coroner’s office statement.
The unidentified driver, of Lake Elsinore, and a third passenger, also of Santa Ana, both suffered major injuries and were transported for treatment to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, CHP spokesman Aaron Rothberg said in a statement.
Due to reasons still under investigation, the truck traveling southbound about 5:40 p.m. failed to negotiate the curve when exiting the highway at Laguna Canyon Road and struck the guardrail, he said.
No Leads in Hit and Run Death
South Carolina’s Beaufort County coroner released the identity of a former Laguna Beach resident whose body was found on Hilton Head Island early this past Sunday, Nov. 3.
Jenny Mercer, 34, who recently relocated to Hilton Head to reside with her mother, was discovered on a road, the victim of an apparent hit and run, Deputy Coroner Tim Wolf said from Beaufort, S.C.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the collision, which occurred at 3 a.m. on South Forest Beach Road near Bay Berry Lane, Trooper Sonny Collins said.
Monday, Oct. 28
Burglary. 32300 block of Coast hwy. 7:45 a.m. Two plumbing trucks were broken into overnight and $10,000 worth of equipment stolen.
Fraud. 31300 Holly Dr. A resident who sent an Ohio company an $1,850 check for fenders for a ’34 antique Ford never received the parts.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Fraud. 1000 block Temple Terrace Dr. An elderly woman didn’t fall for a phone plea for $10,000 to extract her daughter from a jail in Peru.
Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Broadway St. 2:26 p.m. A 35-year-old Escondido man was cited on San Luis Obispo warrants.
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Vandalism. 900 block of Glenneyre St. 10:22 p.m. Someone wrote on a windshield with a black marker.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Fraud. 2100 block of Hillview Dr. 10:46 a.m. A resident received a fraudulent check for $3,500. No further details were available.
Detective activity. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 6:54 p.m. Anthony Scarpinato, 47, among Laguna Beach’s homeless population, was arrested for suspicion of violating his parole.
Friday, Nov. 1
Traffic stop. 200 block of Anita St. 12:48 a.m. A 50-year-old Santa Ana man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Traffic stop. 100 block of Cress St. 1:33 a.m. A 33-year-old San Juan Capistrano resident was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Suspicious vehicle. 21600 block of Treetop Lane. 1:42 p.m. A person on campus turned out to be a missing person from Garden Grove.
Patrol check. S. Coast Hwy. 5:10 p.m. Police received a report about an elderly Laguna Woods woman who has dementia and is unlicensed and drove off in the car of her boyfriend. Police are unable to locate the vehicle.
Foot patrol. 3200 block of Alta Laguna Blvd. 11:56 p.m. Four male juveniles were detained for curfew violation and and a 35-year-old Santa Ana woman arrested for a warrant as well as other charges. Bail was $15,000.
DUI. Coast Hwy. 4:34 p.m. A 72-year-old Huntington Beach man was cited for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Welfare check. 600 block of N. Coast hwy. 6:33 p.m. A 33-year-old Utah woman was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence after initially claiming her boyfriend punched her. While she bore no sign of injury, police noticed her knuckles were bloody and the suspected assailant bore facial injuries, said Sgt. Robert Rahaeuser.
Saturday, Nov. 2
Traffic stop. Canyon Acres. 11:22 p.m. An 18-year-old from Aliso Viejo was arrested for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Battery. 200 block of Ocean Ave. 4:07 p.m. A 53-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested for suspicion of battery and DUI after slapping a bar employee without provocation and fleeing. The woman was stopped driving the wrongway on Forest Lane.
Monday, Nov. 4
Traffic stop. Laguna Canyon Rd. 12:21 a.m. A 22-year-old Coronado resident was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
