In the early morning chill of New Year's Day in Mission Viejo, a devastating wrong-way collision claimed the life of an unidentified woman in her 60s and led to the arrest of Geraldine Caicedo-Perez, 26, on charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence. KTLA reported that the crash, involving a Chevrolet Malibu driving against traffic on Marguerite Parkway, collided head-on with a Toyota Camry around 1:45 a.m. The tragic scene unfolded near the cross-section of Marguerite Parkway and Pueblonuevo Drive where first responders found the two wrecked vehicles.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department's Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is actively investigating the incident as Caicedo-Perez, who along with a passenger, was hospitalized with injuries, was later booked into the Orange County Jail facing a gross vehicular manslaughter charge in connection with the collision, as per the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Deputies dispatched to the scene urgently provided aid to both vehicles' occupants, the grievous cost of this incident underscored by the fatality of the Camry’s driver, and no jail records for Caicedo-Perez were readily available at the time of the report.
The identity of the woman who died is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, and authorities are appealing to the public for information. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant details is urged to contact the OCSD Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
