The crash happened early Thursday morning in the Golden State (5) Freeway traveling through Anaheim.
Sep 3, 2026 10:21 AM PDT | Updated Sep 3, 2026 3:04 PM PDT
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Three people were killed and one was injured Thursday when a vehicle crashed over the side of the Golden State (5) Freeway in Orange County.
The crash happened at around 3:15 a.m. Thursday at the southbound Lincoln Avenue off-ramp of the freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to a report that a speeding vehicle had driven off the roadway and ended up on its side.
According to a preliminary California Highway Patrol investigation, the driver of a Ford Edge driving southbound on the freeway veered off the road for an unknown reason south of Euclid Street.
The SUV slammed into a guardrail and a concrete pillar before careening down a sloped concrete embankment and overturning before finally ending up in brush.
Two people in the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene and two others were rushed to an area hospital where one was later pronounced dead, the CHP said.
Investigators say it appears none of the occupants was wearing seat belts, according to the CHP.
According to the California Highway Patrol log, a witness said that the driver of a white SUV missed the off-ramp and lost control while making a late attempt to take the exit.
The vehicle flew over the side at high speed and two victims were thrown from the car, the log said.
The crash prompted authorities to shut down the off-ramp and four main lanes of the freeway, but two right lanes were reopened and a SigAlert was issued about 5 a.m.
All lanes were reopened about 8 a.m., according to the CHP.
City News Service contributed to this report.