Victim identified in Costa Mesa freeway crash
A 48-year-old Mission Viejo resident was identified as the driver who died Tuesday after he lost control of his vehicle and went over the side of a Costa Mesa freeway connector, coroner’s officials confirmed Thursday.
Michael McAnulty was driving a red Toyota Corolla on the northbound I-405 Freeway connector headed to the southbound 55 Freeway near Baker Street just before 9:13 a.m. when he lost control of the car, authorities said.
The sedan apparently rolled down an embankment before it hit a tree and stopped on its roof inside the ravine.
Costa Mesa Fire Department and other personnel responded and pronounced McAnulty dead at the scene.
The cause of death was related to traumatic injuries he sustained in the crash, Supervising Deputy Coroner Larry Esslinger said.
—Hannah Fry