Mercedes was speeding over 100 mph in deadly wrong-way crash in O.C., officials say
A 65-year-old Corona del Mar woman was killed Wednesday morning after a Mercedes speeding the wrong way on the 73 Freeway at more than 100 mph crashed head-on into her BMW in Newport Beach, authorities said.
Witnesses reported seeing the silver Mercedes speeding south in the northbound lanes of the freeway near Birch Street around 8:56 a.m., California Highway Patrol spokesman John DeMatteo said.
The driver of a white BMW struck by the Mercedes died at the scene. The Mercedes driver, identified as a 23-year-old Newport Beach man, was removed from the vehicle and taken to the Orange County Global Medical Center, DeMatteo said. His condition was not immediately known.
After the initial crash, a white Lexus collided with the Mercedes, but nobody in the Lexus was injured, authorities said.
DeMatteo said it is unclear why the Mercedes was traveling the wrong way on the freeway, although some media outlets reported it may have been intentional. Officers were not able to get a statement from the driver because of his injuries.
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