2 injured after minivan crashes into special needs apartment building in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, Calif. - Two women were injured, one critically, after the driver of a minivan slammed into a Santa Ana apartment late Monday night. 

Investigators believe the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when they drove straight into the victim’s first-floor apartment. She became trapped and Orange County firefighters worked to free her from the wreckage once they arrived at the Vista del Rio apartments located near the intersection of Memory Lane and The City Drive around 10:20 p.m. Residents said the apartment complex is for people with special needs and disabilities.

One of the women, identified as Ayoleone Bufkin, was taken to a trauma center in critical condition while the other victim was hospitalized with less severe injuries. 

Bufkin's parents said she was asleep on the couch when the car crushed her. Bufkin suffered a torn bladder, a broken collarbone and a broken pelvis. Her leg was deprived of blood for so long that doctors had to amputate her foot.

"How the hell can you do this? You crippled an innocent person for life," said Bufkin's father Roland Gonzalez. "You've devastated her entire family for life, and you have the cojones to just run?"

The suspect took off from the scene in an unknown direction and left their minivan behind.  

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation and the search continues for the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Corporal N. Quinones at (714) 245-8216 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.