Newport Beach man dies in auto wreck

Deepa Bharath

An 18-year-old Newport Beach man died Sunday in a traffic collision on

the San Diego Freeway, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Ryan Newman was driving northbound on the San Diego Freeway north of

the Garden Grove Freeway about 9 p.m. Sunday when he swerved to the left

and crashed into the center divider wall, California Highway Patrol

Officer Mark Reeves said.

Newman’s Chevy Tahoe crashed into the wall and overturned. Reeves said

a Toyota Camry coming behind him could not stop in time and crashed into

Newman’s sport-utility vehicle, plowing about 3 feet into the driver’s

side door.

“We don’t know what caused the fatality -- whether it was the vehicle

overturning or the other car crashing into this one,” Reeves said.

It is unknown why Newman swerved or lost control of his vehicle, but

investigators suspect drug use, Reeves said.

The driver and passenger of the Camry were not injured, he said. All

wore seat belts, Reeves said.

Anyone who has more information about the incident is asked to call

the CHP office in Westminster at (714) 892-4426.