Woman Killed After Jumping Out Of Limo
# Was Struck By Several Cars On 405 Freeway
Aug 10, 2005 8:29 pm US/Pacific
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) A 25-year-old woman said to be a member of a punk rock band was fatally injured Wednesday on the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway in Costa Mesa when she apparently jumped from a Hummer limousine, police said.
The woman, who was riding in the vehicle with five other people, leaped out of the vehicle about 5 a.m. and was struck by multiple vehicles, said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Marty Carver.
"We don't know how many cars, but several people called and said they hit her," Carver said, adding that the limousine had been traveling about 65 mph in the No. 1 lane, just north of Fairview Road.
"When she hit of course it was still dark out and so other vehicles without realizing there was a person there struck her and the initial people stopped," Carver said. "But other people continued going thinking they had just struck something in the roadway."
The group had been at a party in Los Angeles before visiting a friend's house in Costa Mesa, which they had left just prior to the woman's apparent suicide, Carver said.
The owner of the limousine told local news the victim was an Irvine resident who was a singer in a punk rock band, along with her boyfriend, and that -- according to the driver -- the two had been arguing in the back of the limo all night.
The owner said the limo was heading toward the woman's home when she suddenly opened the door and jumped out.
The victim, according to the owner, left behind two children.
The other people in the group indicated that everyone had been drinking, Carver said.
Toxicology tests will be performed by the coroner to determine if the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Carver said.
The woman carried no identification, but the coroner was able to pull fingerprints and was provided with a number to contact next-of-kin, but that was not done as of early evening, according to the coroner.
Detectives were handling the investigation as a suicide, but detectives were still questioning witnesses, Carver said.
The woman's death caused a massive traffic tie-up on the heavily traveled freeway. All lanes were shut but one, Carver said, and the roadway was not not re-opened until about noon, Carver said.
