Motorists got an up close view of a crashed car in a Mothers Against Drunk Drivers trailer while waiting to go through police checkpoint near Crescent Bay this past Friday, Dec. 18. Photo courtesy of the LB Police Department..
A car crumbled in a fatal collision and displayed in an illuminated truck trailer served as a sobering road side attraction at a Police Department checkpoint near Crescent Bay Drive last Friday, Dec. 18.
The 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. checkpoint intended to serve as a deterrent to drunk driving screened 1,900 drivers and resulted in the arrest of three motorists, two for suspicion of DUI and a third for alleged drug possession, Lt. Jeff Calvert said in a statement.
Local police now routinely deploy checkpoints in an effort to improve Laguna’s safety record, the second worst in the state for speeding related collisions among small towns, according to state Office of Traffic Safety data for 2013, the most recent available. In that year, Laguna reported 147 collisions involving injuries or fatalities.
The crash car, involved a fatal DUI collision in the city of Huntington Beach, serves as a visual tool intended to change behaviors and attitudes about the dangers of drinking and driving or riding with driver who has, said Sgt. Tim Kleiser. It was provided by the organization Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, he said.
The driver of the displayed car, who was not identified, was a repeat offender and was driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .12 percent. He was convicted of manslaughter, Kleiser said.
“We received a positive response from motorists for both the display and the checkpoint,” Calvert said.
Six other drivers stopped at the checkpoint were arrested for driving unlicensed and two others arrested for unspecified criminal charges, Calvert said.
Seven citations were also issued, he said in the statement.
Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000, says a statement issued by police.
Monday, Dec. 14
Verbal threats. 8500 block of Coast Hwy. 11:44 a.m. A fifth-grader who made a comment about damaging the school was counseled and wrote an apology letter.
Fraud. 1200 block of La Mirada St. 6:51 p.m. A homeowner says a contractor made $12,000 in unauthorized charges to her credit card.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Drunk driving. St. Ann’s Dr. 1 a.m. A 21-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI.
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Traffic stop. Glenneyre St. 12:50 a.m. Angela Vertucci, 28, of Laguna Hills, was cited for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.
Robbery. 400 block of Seaview St. 9:50 a.m. A woman walking home the previous night reported being knocked down from behind and her purse taken. She did not see her attacker.
Fraud. 1000 block of Van Dyke Dr. 1:48 p.n. Someone used a resident’s identity to open an account and ordered cell phones.
Drunk driving. West St. 11:38 p.m. A 40-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI.
Thursday, Dec. 17
DUI. Temple Hills Dr. 4:37 p.m. A 22-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI.
Pedestrian stop. Laguna Ave. 8:22 p.m. David Fredrick Kuhn, 39, of Chino, was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
Friday, Dec. 18
Traffic stop. 15-04731. Mountain Rd. 12:49 a.m. John Vincent Torres, 5/78, Hayward
Vu Tam Bang Hoang, 37, of Santa Ana, was cited for DUI, his second offense.
Petty theft. 700 block of Temple Hills Dr. 3:54 p.m. Detectives are checking out the theft of a $25,000 Cartier watch, left behind in a limosine.
Traffic stop. 200 block of Cliff Dr. 5:35 p.m. A 29-year-old Mission Viejo man was cited for DUI.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Vandalism. 300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 5 a.m. A high window was shattered though no on appeared to make entry.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Pedestrian stop. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 12:50 a.m. Rhonda Diane Metoyer, 62, of Los Angeles, was arrested for two warrants.
Occupied vehicle. 200 block of Ocean Ave. 1:27 a.m. A 26-year-old Lake Forest man was cited for DUI.
Traffic stop. 400 block of Arroyo Chico. 1:39 a.m. Ramin Vosough, 50, of Irvine, was arrested for suspicion of DUI with one prior offense.
Traffic collision. 15-04769. 400 block of N. Coast hwy. 6 a.m. vehicle vs. pedestrian. Single rollover.
Fraud. 400 block of Loma Terrace 10 a.m. A resident’s identity was used to open a credit card account.
Petty theft. 1300 Glenneyre st. 11 a.m. A plant thief took $1500 worth of cuttings and pots.
Traffic collision. 30800 block of Coast hwy. 2:35 p.m. A cyclist suffered a minor injury in a collision with a vehicle.
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