A 58-year-old Orange woman died Thursday night after she was thrown from a Toyota Highlander during a two-vehicle crash on North 16th Street, according to police. Maria Zepeda was riding as a passenger when the Highlander collided with a northbound black BMW near the 2400 block, and she did not survive her injuries.
Officers were dispatched to the scene at about 9:11 p.m. on October 22, according to therecordlive.com, though theexaminer.com reported the crash happened around 9:00 p.m. that same evening. Investigators say the Highlander was attempting to turn left into a private driveway when it was struck by the BMW, which was traveling north in the right lane.
Passenger Ejected, Two Drivers Hospitalized or Treated at Scene
Zepeda, described by police as a passenger in the Highlander, was ejected from the vehicle during the collision. She was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased, the station's report states.
The Highlander's driver was also transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital with apparent injuries, per the same account. The BMW's driver was evaluated and treated at the scene by Acadian Ambulance personnel but was not taken to a hospital.
Detective Division Continues Investigation
The crash remains under investigation by the Orange Police Department's Detective Division, the article notes. Everyone involved in the crash, along with several witnesses, has cooperated with investigators so far, according to the report by 12newsnow.
No further details about the cause of the collision or any potential findings have been released. 12newsnow, which first reported on the fatal crash, said no additional information was available as of its latest update.
