Violent head-on crash kills 3, injures 2 in San Juan Capistrano

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (KABC) -- A violent head-on collision in San Juan Capistrano left three people dead and two others seriously injured on Thursday.

Authorities responded to the crash involving a black Honda Accord and a red Ford Focus on Camino Capistrano, south of Avery Parkway, at 7:57 p.m. Two men in the Ford were declared dead at the scene, and the male driver of the Honda Accord was also declared dead at the scene.

Two man and woman, both in their 20s, were extricated from the Honda Accord and rushed to a trauma center at Mission Hospital in serious condition.

A family dog was also killed in the crash.

After a preliminary investigation, the Orange County Sheriff's Department determined that the Ford Focus was traveling northbound on Camino Capistrano when it crossed the double yellow line at a high rate of speed, slamming head-on into the Honda Accord.

The deceased victims were identified by the sheriff's department as Sergio Lugo, 23, of San Juan Capistrano; Juan Jesus Gutierrez, 26, of San Juan Capistrano; and Guillermo Enrique Belman-Sanchez, 22, of San Juan Capistrano. Lugo was identified as the driver of the Ford Focus, and Belman-Sanchez was the driver of the Honda Accord.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. An autopsy and toxicology tests will determine whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Traffic Bureau at (714) 647-7000 or (949) 425-1860.