A suspected hit-and-run driver and her passenger were found at a local hospital following a violent crash that left three men dead in Anaheim early Tuesday morning.
The crash was reported about 2:50 a.m. near the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Orange Avenue, Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Shane Carringer said.
Officers arrived to find a collision occurred between a white Mercedes-Benz sedan and a black Kia SUV. First responders say the Mercedes-Benz was engulfed in flames, while they had to cut off the roof of the SUV to get to the victims.
Three victims inside the Kia, all believed to be adult males, were pronounced dead at the scene, Carringer said.
There was no one found inside the Mercedes-Benz.
Police put out an alert to local hospitals to contact them if anyone arrived with injuries consistent with a car crash.
Two women, believed to be the hit-and-run driver and her passenger, were located at a nearby hospital a short time later. “They’re pretty seriously injured,” Carringer said.
In a tweet Anaheim police said the women were driven to the hospital by a “good Samaritan.” But Carringer told KTLA the incident was still being investigated as a hit-and-run until detectives can determine that driver's relationship to the women and motivation for getting them out of the area.
The cause of the crash is also still being determined, but investigators believe the Kia turned out of a parking lot in front of the Mercedes-Benz when the collision occurred. The impact was captured by surveillance cameras at a nearby AAMCO automotive parts store.
Speed may also be a factor in the crash based on the force of the collision, Carringer said.
Brookhurst Street was closed between Orange Avenue and West Broadway during the investigation.
Detectives are hoping to speak with the person who drove the women to the hospital.
Anyone with information can contact Anaheim police Investigator Perez at 714-765-1861.