05.25.2019 | 2:24 AM | SILVERADO – Two people were dead and three others were hospitalized in critical condition after a crash on Santiago Canyon Road, early Saturday morning.
Authorities responded to reports of a vehicle that lost control and struck a tree on Santiago Canyon Road near Hicks Haul Road around 2:24 AM.
Units arriving on scene found a black Mazda Protege wrapped around a tree with five victims.
The driver and front passenger of the vehicle were trapped and required extrication. Despite resuscitative efforts the driver of the vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Joshua Morales, of Santa Ana, was pronounced deceased on scene.
The front passenger along with three passengers from the backseat were treated on scene before being transported to area hospitals in critical condition.
A short while later the front passenger, identified as 17-year-old Colton Mondy, of Garden Grove, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at an area hospital.
Authorities identified the three other passengers as 19-year-old Luis Hernandez, of Garden Grove, 18-year-old Unique Valdez, and 18-year-old Daniel Clark, of Santa Ana.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.