ORANGE : 5 Hurt, 1 Critically When Vehicle Flips

Five people were injured, one critically, when a Ford Bronco carrying six people flipped several times on the Costa Mesa Freeway Monday, ejecting three occupants onto the middle of the highway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred at 11:45 a.m. on the northbound freeway near Katella Avenue when the driver, Ismael Granadof, 29, of Orange, swerved to the left “for an unknown reason,” CHP Officer Angel Johnson said. The Bronco clipped the rear of another car and flipped several times.

All five passengers were hurt, including the three who were thrown out.

Julia Giles, 19, of Orange, was airlifted to UCI Medical Center in critical condition with major head injuries. Her 3-year-old daughter, Aristotle, who had been riding on her mother’s lap in the back seat, suffered moderate head injuries, Johnson said. Passenger Maria Tejada, 32, of Orange, suffered major head injuries, Johnson said.

“The three who were ejected were lucky they were not hit by another car,” Angel said.

The other two passengers suffered minor injuries. The driver was unhurt.

Johnson said the CHP will seek felony child endangerment charges against Granadof because the four people in the back seat were not wearing seat belts and the child, Granadof’s daughter, was not in a car seat.

The accident closed the northbound lanes until about 12:30 p.m.