Crime & Safety
Five Girls Injured, 2 Critically, in South County Crash
The incident occurred on Melinda Road in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Updated: Article originally posted 1:45 a.m.
Five teenage girls were injured, two of them critically, when their car went off a residential road in Rancho Santa Margarita, careened down an embankment and crashed into a tree, in an accident that may be attributed to speed, Orange County authorities said today.
The accident occurred at 10:53 p.m. Saturday on Melinda Road at Paseo Alegria, said Orange County sheriff's Lt. Lloyd Downing.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The teens' ages ranged from 16 to 19, Downing said. The preliminary indication was that speed and possibly moisture left over from the rain caused the crash.
"The girls' car went off the road, down an embankment and hit a couple of trees," said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Two of the girls were transported to the trauma center at Mission Regional Hospital in critical condition, Concialdi said. Two with moderate injuries were transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and one with mild injuries was taken to Saddleback Hospital.
Melinda Road was closed at the crash scene for the sheriff's department investigation, Concialdi said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
