1 killed, 1 arrested in fiery 57 Freeway crash in Orange

One person died and a motorist was arrested following a fiery crash on the 57 Freeway in Orange early Sunday, March 8.

The collision happened at about 3:55 a.m. on the southbound freeway near the Chapman Avenue off-ramp, the California Highway Patrol reported. A vehicle with two people inside left the roadway and collided with a tree, then burst into flames, Metro Net Fire Dispatch Supervisor Sean Infante said.

Photos from the crash site showed smoke billowing up an embankment as firefighters used hoses to douse the burning car. Paramedics were also seen loading at least one injured person into an ambulance.

Orange County coroner’s officials were dispatched to the scene at 5:46 a.m. The vehicle’s passenger was declared dead, Infante said. Details regarding the decedent’s identity were withheld pending notification of relatives.

CHP logs show that the driver of the vehicle was arrested at 6:05 a.m., said Daniella Romero, a dispatcher for the agency. The motorist’s name, and the specific crimes that person might be suspected of, were not immediately made public.

A SigAlert was issued at 4:50 a.m., temporarily stopping traffic on the freeway near the crash site.