Newport Beach, CA- Woman Dead After Wrong-Way Crash on the 73 Fwy Near Campus Dr

Newport Beach, CA (June 6, 2019)- A wrong-way collision between a silver Mercedes Benz and a white BMW killed a woman on the 73 Freeway near Campus Drive at approximately 9 am on Wednesday in Newport Beach.

According to reports, 23-year-old Newport Beach resident and Mercedes driver Luke Fitch was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes at speeds surpassing 100 miles per hour when he struck the BMW head-on.

The driver of the BMW, 65-year-old Corona del Mar resident Arda Gulesserian, was pronounced dead at the crash site.

Fitch was transported to Orange County Global Medical Center in critical condition after being extricated from his vehicle.

Following the crash, a white Lexus struck the damaged Mercedes; however, no one in the Lexus was hurt.

According to some reports, the Mercedes driver may have been driving the wrong way for intentional reasons. However, this has not been confirmed at this time. Authorities have not been able to obtain a statement from Fitch due to the extent of his injuries.

The freeway was closed northbound for an investigation into the crash to commence and for removal of the damaged vehicles and other debris.

The crash investigation is ongoing.

We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Arda Gulesserian.  Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Wrong-way Driving on California Freeways

In 2012, the National Highway Transportation Safety Board published a report on wrong-way drivers in the US. It stated that approximately half to three-quarters of wrong-way drivers are intoxicated when the wrong-way driving occurs. The majority of wrong-way drivers are over 70-years-old. The most frequent type of wrong-way driving involves trying to enter a freeway via an exit ramp. Wrong-way driving most often happens at night and usually occurs close to the median of the road.

If you have been injured in a car accident with a wrong-way driver or lost a loved one due to an accident with a wrong-way driver, contact the Brady Law Group for a complimentary consultation with one of our talented and highly knowledgeable accident attorneys. For over 25 years, we’ve helped thousands of clients secure millions of dollars in settlements. The Brady Law Group runs on a contingency basis; we will never charge fees unless we can obtain results for you. Don’t’ hesitation to reach out to us 866-478-6483 for a free consultation.

Note: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved. As a result, the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified by our own writing staff. If you have identified any false information in the story, please inform us immediately, and we will adjust the posting to reflect the most accurate content available.

Disclaimer: As a member of the local community, we at Brady Law Group strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state. We are extremely saddened by these accidents but hope that, through an awareness of these dangers, those in our community will take precautions to avoid these accidents. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident.