A tragic accident early Wednesday morning in Mission Viejo has left a woman in her 60s dead, and another woman facing serious charges. The crash happened around 1:40 a.m. near Marguerite Parkway and Pueblonuevo Drive, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies say the collision involved two cars: a Chevrolet Malibu and a Toyota Camry. From their initial investigation, it appears the Malibu was driving the wrong way in the southbound lanes of Marguerite Parkway when it slammed head-on into the Camry.
The driver of the Camry, a woman in her 60s, was rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, she didn’t survive her injuries. Authorities haven’t shared her identity yet.
The other driver, identified as 26-year-old Geraldine Caicedo-Perez, was behind the wheel of the Malibu. She was also taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries from the crash. Once she was stable, deputies arrested her on suspicion of driving under the influence. She’s now booked in the Orange County Jail and faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter.
This heartbreaking event is a reminder of the dangers of reckless and impaired driving. If anyone has information that might help investigators, they’re encouraged to call detectives at (949) 425-1860.
It’s a devastating situation for the family of the victim and a stark warning for everyone to drive responsibly and stay alert on the roads.