Anaheim, Calif. (October 9, 2024) – A tragic traffic accident on October 8 has left one woman dead and another man in custody, as the Anaheim Police Department investigates the incident involving a pedestrian.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, officers and Anaheim Fire & Rescue personnel responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of South Rio Vista Street and Wagner Avenue. Preliminary investigations revealed that a silver Mercedes sedan, driven by 33-year-old Raymundo Rangel of Santa Ana, was speeding eastbound on Wagner Avenue. The driver lost control while attempting a 90-degree left turn onto Rio Vista Street, veering off the road and crashing through a greenbelt into a riverbed.
Upon arrival, officers found two individuals near the vehicle, both believed to have been occupants at the time of the collision. They were promptly transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
During the course of the investigation, a concerned male resident approached the officers to report that his wife had gone for a walk along the greenbelt and had not returned. In response, officers, aided by the Anaheim Police Air Support helicopter, conducted a thorough search of the area. Tragically, they discovered the body of a woman in the dense brush, believed to be the wife of the reporting resident. Initial findings suggest she was struck by the Mercedes as it went off the road.
Raymundo Rangel has since been taken into custody and faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI, with authorities indicating that alcohol may have played a role in the crash. The intersection of Wagner Avenue and Rio Vista Street remained closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene, and Anaheim Fire and Rescue’s Urban Search and Rescue team recovered the victim’s body.
The Anaheim Police Department is urging anyone with additional information regarding this incident to reach out at 714-765-1900.