3 Killed in Santa Ana Crash on Segerstrom Avenue Identified by Coroner
Four Killed in Solo Collision into Tree in Orange County
SANTA ANA, Calif. (April 8, 2025) – Authorities have identified three of the four people who died Saturday in a solo-vehicle crash into a palm tree on Segerstrom Avenue in Santa Ana.
The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner identified three who died as 17-year-old Natalia Vidal Zarate, 18-year-old Emanuel Gonzalez Martinez, and 19-year-old Aurelia “Arely” Robles.
UPDATE: A fourth victim who died at the scene was identified later as Jaqueline Torres Zarate, 16.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old girl, Cynthia Torres Zarate, was declared brain dead and placed on life support at the hospital. The youngest victim attended Carr Intermediate School. She and two other girls who died were all family members, according to a joint Gofundme page.
The deadly collision occurred around 11:25 p.m. on April 5th, between Raitt and Greenville streets, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.
Emmanuel Gonzalez Martinez was driving a white four-door Lexus sedan occupied by a total of six people. The group was traveling westbound on Segerstrom Avenue when the driver reportedly missed a turn and lost control. The car crashed into a tree in the median in the middle of the roadway. The car was wrapped sideways around the palm tree.
Two other occupants from the car who died have not been identified yet. The car was occupied by two adults and four teens, all students at Valley High School in Santa Ana. Furthermore, the victims included two sets of sisters and all six were friends.
Santa Ana police and paramedics responded and located two people who were ejected from the car. Medical personnel confirmed the deaths of four people who were trapped in the wreckage at the scene. The two who were ejected were transported to a hospital where one of them later died from major injuries. The sole survivor — Arlene Robles,15, – remains hospitalized with major injuries. The girl’s family has a Gofundme to cover her sister “Arely’s” funeral expenses.
The Santa Ana Police Department is heading up the investigation into the crash on Segerstrom Avenue.
It’s unknown if drugs and or alcohol were factors, but police have confirmed speed was involved and that some of the occupants were not wearing their seatbelts.
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Source: Santa Ana
