Driver’s Attempt to Help Might Have Led to Fatal Orange County Crash

A driver's attempt to help another motorist might have led to a series of crashes Thursday morning on the 5 Freeway in Irvine that left two people dead.

The collisions began with a single-vehicle crash into a center divider near Jamboree Road. The female driver of an Acura sedan stopped to help the driver, but both vehicles were then struck by the driver of a Toyota Camry.

"The vehicle that was disabled was stopped in lanes," said CHP Officer Florintino Olivera. "The best thing you want to do is pull to a safe location, call 911 and be a good witness."

Map: NBCLA Traffic Page

Another vehicle struck the Camry, which was then broad-sided by a minivan. Both Camry occupants were killed in the crash.

A coroner's van transported two bodies -- identified only as a man and woman -- from the scene on the northbound side of the 5 Freeway during the morning-long investigation. Lanes were closed on the northbound side of the 5 Freeway for the crash investigation.

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Three victims suffered moderate injuries and one suffered minor injuries, Orange County fire officials told City News Service. Another victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries.