3 Killed in Solo Tesla Crash in Newport Beach

3 Killed in Solo Tesla Crash in Newport Beach
Crime scene tape in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 11, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
City News Service
5/13/2022
Updated:
5/13/2022
0:00

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—Three people died early Thursday in a solo vehicle crash in Newport Beach.

The crash was reported about 12:45 a.m. in the 3000 Block of Pacific Coast Highway, the Newport Beach Police Department reported.

A Tesla Model S was traveling west when it hit a curb, then crashed into equipment on the south side of the street, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Heather Rangel said, according to the Orange County Register.

The victims were identified as Crystal M. McCallum, 34, of Texas, Wayne Walter Swanson Jr., 40, of Newport Coast, and Andrew James Chaves, 32, of Arizona, according to Orange County sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Steinle.

The vehicle hit a curb and some construction equipment on the south side of the roadway, killing the occupants of the vehicle, police said. Information on their identities was not immediately available.

Three construction workers who were at the scene suffered minor injuries and were treated at a hospital, police said.

PCH was closed in the area for several hours while an investigation was conducted into the circumstances of the crash. Anyone with information on the case was urged to contact Traffic Investigator Austin Laverty at [email protected].

Jack Bradley contributed to this report.