Gunshot fired at witness following 3-car crash in Dana Point

A passenger fired a gunshot as he tried to escape from a multi-vehicle, DUI crash in Dana Point on Monday night, authorities said.

Deputies around 7:15 p.m. on Monday responded to reports of a crash involving three vehicles at the Pacific Coast Highway and Alcazar Drive intersection, Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt. Joses Walehwa said.

The deputies learned that a passenger from one of the vehicles had fled on foot and had fired a gunshot at a witness who tried to stop him, Walehwa said.

No one was struck by the gunshot. Several people were injured in the crash, but none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The exact cause of the crash is under investigation. But Andres Gama, 18, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Walehwa said.

The man suspected of firing the gunshot – identified by police as 18-year-old Francisco Saavedra – returned to the scene of the crash and was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats, Walehwa said.

The gun believed used in the shooting was recovered, Walehwa said. Both Gama and Saavedra are believed to have been in the same vehicle at the time of the crash, the sergeant added.