Costa Mesa man arrested in fatal Irvine crash after intense search

Irvine police arrested a Costa Mesa man suspected of running away after his vehicle crashed into two cars, killing a 54-year-old woman and injuring four others, including two children, .authorities said Thursday afternoon.

Alec Scott Abraham, 20, was in a Costa Mesa park when officers took him into custody around 1 p.m., authorities said. A police spokeswoman declined to specify which park.

The crash, at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, sparked an intense search that included bloodhounds scouring the area near Muirlands Boulevard and Alton Parkway after the driver of a black Ford Mustang fled after hitting the other cars.

Two women and two children, ages 3 and 6, were in a Chevrolet Cruze that was struck by the Mustang, police said. One of the women died and the other was taken to a hospital along with the children, who were seriously injured.

A woman driving a Honda Civic also was treated at a hospital and later released.

Police said Abraham had minor injuries and is being treated at a hospital before he is booked into Orange County Jail.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Det. Jonathan Cherney at (949) 724-7024.

Rocha writes for the Los Angeles Times.