ORANGE, Calif. (KABC) — A 19-year-old from Exeter has been identified as the driver responsible for a fiery crash in Orange early Saturday morning that killed three people and injured four others — including two juveniles — police said.
According to an update issued by the Orange Police Department, Azari Fuller was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima with six other passengers.
Around 2:45 a.m., officers conducting a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Glassell Street spotted the car speeding southbound on Glassell Street and “tried to catch up,” said Sergeant Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department. The Altima “struck guardrails and signal lights associated with a railroad crossing,” said Sgt.
None of the seven occupants of the car were wearing seat belts; Fuller and the passengers were ejected from the vehicle.
When officers arrived at Glassell Street and Taft Avenue, the sedan was engulfed in flames.
A tank of nitrous oxide and balloons were found “in and around the vehicle,” McMullin said.
“When people put nitrous oxide in a balloon, it creates a temporary high and can cause damage,” he said. “In this case, we believe it may have been used or contributed to the collision.”
Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, including a young man, a 14-year-old girl and a 26-year-old man, who has been identified as Gustavo Castro of Garden Grove.
Paramedics took four people, including Fuller, to hospitals.
“He’s in critical condition,” McMullin said. “He is currently in a local hospital and based on the evidence and statements we have received we believe he was impaired and that is likely a factor in the collision along with speed.”
Three suffered critical injuries and one had moderate injuries, McMullin said.
Two of the three seriously injured were minors, according to investigators.
“We certainly know speed was a factor,” McMullin told reporters at the scene of the crash. “We also believe that they used nitrous oxide, based on the tanks and balloons that were found at the scene, the driver was impaired.” Investigators also believe that alcohol and drugs may have also played a role in the crash in addition to over speeding.
Meanwhile, some of the family members of the heartbroken victim were seen grieving at the scene of the accident on Saturday afternoon.
One witness said he was shaken by the crash.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Joshua Ellis said. “It was shocking to see this fire at a level crossing. I’ve never seen it before. The car was on its side when I ran into it. Flames blazed in the air. Black smoke everywhere. The smell of burning metal and rubber and all that was everywhere.”
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Orange Police Department at (714) 744-7444.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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