SANTA ANA, Calif. (April 17, 2024) — A fatal collision occurred in Santa Ana resulting in the death of a 44-year-old motorcyclist, identified as Flor Mecon Granados. The incident took place at the intersection of Bristol Street and Segerstrom Avenue around 3 a.m. on April 11th and involved a suspected drunk driver.
The motorcyclist, a resident of Santa Ana, was struck by a 2024 Mazda driven by 29-year-old Mario Celestino Torres, who was subsequently arrested. The collision was severe enough to claim the life of Granados at the scene despite the prompt response from paramedics.
The driver of the Mazda, Torres, now faces charges including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. Enhancements to his sentencing could be applied due to the significant injuries suffered by Granados. Torres pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for May 15.
Law enforcement officials are currently conducting an ongoing investigation into the specific details of the crash. They are working to gather more evidence that could shed light on the events that led to this tragedy.
The occurrence has once again highlighted the perils of driving under the influence. Local authorities are expected to continue their efforts to prevent such incidents and strictly enforce laws against driving while intoxicated.