DANA POINT, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2023) On Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, at approximately 8:20 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an injury traffic collision near the intersection of Coast Highway and Palisades Drive in the city of Dana Point. Deputies arrived and located an adult male victim lying in the roadway suffering from significant injuries.
The victim’s vehicle, a 1999 Plymouth, was struck from behind by a 2019 BMW. The victim was treated and transported to a local hospital via Orange County Fire Authority paramedics where he was later pronounced deceased.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears both vehicles were traveling southbound on Coast Highway south of Palisades Drive when the collision occurred. The driver of the BMW, Evan Madison Owen, 43, from Littleton, CO, was initially arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence while causing injury; however, a second-degree murder charge was later included due to Owen’s knowledge of the dangers of impaired driving. Owen had trained experience as a volunteer firefighter in the county of Los Angeles.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the collision. A “Sig-Alert” was issued immediately following the collision and was lifted the following day.
The identity of the victim, a man in his 50s, is being withheld pending the Coroner Division’s next of kin notification.
If anyone has additional details that may assist investigators, or witnessed this traffic collision, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
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