Coroner identifies two of the three killed in Anaheim hit-and-run crash
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The coroner's office on Wednesday identified two of the three men killed in a hit-and-run crash in Anaheim early Tuesday morning. The victims were an Uber driver and two passengers, officials said.
Anaheim police said the three victims in a black Kia Soul were leaving a hookah lounge located inside a strip mall located near Orange Avenue and Brookehurst Street just before 3 a.m. when it collided with a white Mercedes-Benz that was traveling northbound. The two vehicles erupted in flames upon impact and the two women inside the Mercedes left the vehicle and ran from the scene.
The three men inside the black SUV were pronounced dead on the scene. Police say the vehicle had just left a business and was turning onto Brookhurst before being struck.
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The coroner's office identified two of the victims as Alexander Smiller, 63, of Los Angeles and Jacob Rolon, 32, of La Mirada.
Uber sent the following statement to FOX 11 on Wednesday:
"News about the crash that took the lives of Mr. Smiller and the two riders in his car is heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We are working on reaching out to them and providing support."
A witness said he believes the driver of the Mercedes may have been racing.
The two women were located at a nearby hospital and were being treated for injuries sustained from the crash, according to Anaheim police.
"We put out a call to area hospitals and heard back about two females being treated who appeared to have injuries consistent with the crash," said Sgt. Shane Carringer.
The driver will be charged with felony hit-and-run.
The investigation is ongoing.