NEWPORT BEACH – The driver of a wrong-way SUV was killed when it collided head-on with a sedan while northbound in southbound lanes of the Corona del Mar (73) Freeway in Newport Beach, authorities said Monday.
The California Highway Patrol started getting calls at 9:26 p.m. Sunday about the vehicle moving northbound in the southbound fast lane at a high rate of speed, according to its online log.
The head-on collision was reported at 9:30 p.m. just north of Macarthur Boulevard. A witness told the CHP a vehicle exploded and was in flames.
A news videographer said a CHP sergeant at the scene explained the driver of the wrong-way Range Rover was killed and the driver of an electric BMW sedan was injured.
The Orange County coroner’s office was summoned to the scene at 10:05 p.m.
Debris was strewn across all southbound lanes, which were shut down and traffic was diverted off the freeway at Campus Drive.
The lanes were reopened at 2:10 a.m. Monday.
