News Summary
A series of collisions on the 405 Freeway in Fountain Valley resulted in one death and several injuries on July 20. The California Highway Patrol confirmed a crash involved a Honda SUV and three sedans, closing multiple lanes. Another accident occurred later that night linked to a police pursuit of an arson suspect, leading to more fatalities. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward while the community grapples with the impact of these tragic events.
Fountain Valley – A multi-vehicle collision on the 405 Freeway led to one fatality and multiple injuries on the morning of July 20. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the crash involved a white Honda SUV and three additional sedans, occurring near Euclid Avenue at approximately 10:35 a.m.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with the Orange County coroner’s office dispatched to the scene by 11:02 a.m. A Sigalert was issued at 10:52 a.m., resulting in the closure of the No. 1 and No. 2 lanes of the southbound freeway. The duration of these lane closures remains unknown.
In a separate incident occurring later that same day, at least one person died and multiple others were injured in a collision just after 10 p.m. near Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street. This crash involved a pickup truck that was found overturned in the middle of the road, with a white SUV discovered several feet behind it on the sidewalk. Initial reports confirm that one individual was detained at the scene and placed in handcuffs while further details about the injured individuals and their conditions remain unclear. Authorities have not specified whether the deceased individual was traveling in the pickup truck or the white SUV.
Details of the Crash Involving an Arson Suspect
The events leading up to the late-night crash are linked to a police pursuit of an arson suspect. Officers had initially responded to reports of a fire at a residence located in the 18000 block of Arches Court. The suspect allegedly ignited a bush using lighter fluid, which posed a risk to a nearby home. Fortunately, residents extinguished the flames before police arrived.
Authorities discovered a white Dodge Ram, thought to belong to the arson suspect, abandoned in a parking lot at the 17900 block of Brookhurst. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Timothy Bradford Cole from Huntington Beach, fled the scene upon noticing the approaching officers.
The high-speed chase culminated in a crash at the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street involving Cole’s Dodge Ram and a white BMW X3. Emergency responders transported three occupants of the BMW to a local trauma center. Tragically, a 25-year-old woman, a passenger in the BMW, was pronounced dead while being transported. The other two passengers from the BMW are reported to be in critical but stable condition, while Cole sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to a trauma center in Long Beach.
Impact on the Community
Due to the crash, local road closures affected the nearby Roch Courregas Elementary School, prompting authorities to assess the situation and maintain public safety during this disruptive event.
Anyone with information regarding either crash is encouraged to contact the Fountain Valley Police Department at 714-593-4485. The community’s cooperation may help shed light on the circumstances surrounding these tragic incidents.
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Additional Resources
- MSN News: One Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on 405 Freeway
- Wikipedia: Fountain Valley, California
- OC Register: 1 Dead in Multi-Vehicle Crash on 405 Freeway
- Google Search: Multi-Vehicle Crash Fountain Valley
- ABC7 News: Fountain Valley Crash Possibly Linked to Chase
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Accident
- NBC Los Angeles: Fountain Valley Fatal Multi-Car Crash
- Google News: Fountain Valley Crash News
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
