A speeding Subaru SUV veered into closed lanes on the southbound 405 Freeway in Irvine on Thursday night, Jan. 30, hitting a truck on a Caltrans project — killing the Subaru’s passenger and leaving the worker with minor injuries, authorities said.
The 26-year-old Norwalk man behind the wheel of the Subaru was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, they said.
The California Highway Patrol learned of the crash, north of the MacArthur Boulevard exit, just after 10:40 p.m, said Officer Fernando Perez, a CHP spokesman.
There were two lanes closed at the time. Before hitting the construction truck, the Subaru hit a concrete wall along the right shoulder, said Sheilah Fortenberry, a Caltrans spokeswoman.
The passenger who died was a 26-year-old man from Buena Park.
The worker contracted by Caltrans, a 47-year-old Cudahy man, was standing next to the truck when the crash occurred, Perez said.
He was on the freeway installing electrical cable, Fortenberry said.
The CHP did not disclose whether the suspected drunk driver was hospitalized, but Fortenberry said two people, including the contracted worker, were injured.
“This serves as a reminder to all drivers to slow down and move over when approaching construction zones and Caltrans maintenance operations on our highway system,” Fortenberry said.
The identity of the passenger who died was withheld by authorities pending notification of his relatives. The CHP did not immediately identify the suspect.