Charges sought in crash

Police are seeking charges against the driver and owners of a concrete-mixing truck that went through a red light at the 73 Toll Road and over the top of a BMW sport utility vehicle July 18, sending nine people to the hospital, including one in critical condition.

The Silver Concrete and Ready Mix truck was driven by 27-year-old Armando Sandoval from Long Beach, who was not injured in the 10:29 a.m. incident, according to Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

Sandoval’s truck, which was three-quarters filled with wet concrete at the time of the incident, was found to have faulty brakes, Kravetz said. The driver was determined not to be intoxicated at the time of the incident.

The 46-year-old Irvine woman driving the BMW sustained serious injuries which consisted of many broken bones in her legs, back and pelvic area. She is at Mission Hospital, Kravetz said.

The truck rolled over the engine portion of the BMW, spinning it around, causing it to then be struck by a Ford Expedition driven by a 37-year-old Covina woman.

Both vehicles were heading southbound on Laguna Canyon Road.

The driver and passengers of the Expedition were not seriously injured.

“An inspection of the cement mixer found that it did have a problem with the braking system,” Kravetz said. “We met with the owner of the company and interviewed him at the police station. We are submitting the case to the district attorney’s office for a filing against the company, the owner and the driver.”

Charges to be sought include multiple vehicle code violations, and a charge for running the red light.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or cindy.frazier@latimes.com.