Three Teens Killed in Crash on Interstate 5 in Anaheim
Three teenagers died when a Ford Edge carrying four teens left southbound Interstate 5 near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp in Anaheim about 3:15 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2026: Victor Hugo Delgado, 17, and Robert Miguel Gutierrez-Avalos, 16, of Santa Ana, and Levi Jacob Flores, 15, of Garden Grove. CHP says none wore seat belts and speed is a possible factor; the driver has not been identified and no charges have been filed. The fourth teen remained in critical condition as of NBC LA family interviews aired Sept. 5.
Three teenagers — Victor Hugo Delgado, 17, of Santa Ana; Robert Miguel Gutierrez-Avalos, 16, of Santa Ana; and Levi Jacob Flores, 15, of Garden Grove — were killed. A fourth teen was critically injured. The driver has not been publicly identified.
A white Ford Edge carrying four teenagers veered off southbound I-5 near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp, struck infrastructure, overturned, and came to rest in vegetation; three teens died and one was critically injured. None of the four wore seat belts.
Southbound I-5 near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp in Anaheim, Orange County, California.
Crash occurred at approximately 3:15 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. The CHP investigation remains active as of Sept. 8, 2026.
The vehicle's precise cause of departure from the roadway is under investigation. A witness reported the driver appeared to attempt a late off-ramp exit and lost control.
The California Highway Patrol investigation into the triple-fatal single-vehicle crash on southbound I-5 in Anaheim remains open and active. As of Sept. 8, 2026, no driver has been publicly identified and no charges or DUI arrest have been announced. The condition of the fourth occupant has not been publicly updated since Sept. 6.
At approximately 3:15 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, a white Ford Edge carrying four teenagers was traveling southbound on I-5 near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp in Anaheim. According to investigators, the vehicle veered off the freeway, struck a guardrail and a concrete pillar, continued onto a sloped concrete embankment, overturned, and came to rest in vegetation. A witness reported that the driver appeared to attempt a late exit and lost control missing the off-ramp.
Two occupants were ejected. Investigators confirmed that none of the four wore seat belts.
The Orange County coroner identified the three fatalities as Victor Hugo Delgado, 17, of Santa Ana; Robert Miguel Gutierrez-Avalos, 16, of Santa Ana; and Levi Jacob Flores, 15, of Garden Grove. Their identities were released publicly on Sept. 4, 2026, per ABC7 and the OC Register. NBC Los Angeles aired family interviews on Sept. 5: Ivette Vargas, sister of Victor Hugo Delgado, said he helped care for their mother after brain surgery and hoped to attend mechanic school; the Flores family described Levi as "funny."
The Lincoln Avenue off-ramp and four lanes of the freeway were closed following the crash and remained closed until approximately 8 a.m. on Sept. 3. The CHP leads the investigation.
No charging decision or identification of the driver has been made public. Further investigative findings — including any toxicology or speed analysis — are expected to be released by the CHP at a later date. Official updates from the CHP can be monitored through the CHP Santa Ana Area office.
- Sep 3, 03:15(5 days ago)
About 3:15 a.m., a Ford Edge carrying four teens veers off southbound I-5 near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp, strikes a guardrail and concrete pillar and overturns down an embankment; two are ejected, three die, one is critically injured. Lanes reopen by 8 a.m.
- Sep 4, 14:00(4 days ago)
The OC coroner identifies the dead as Victor Hugo Delgado, 17, and Robert Miguel Gutierrez-Avalos, 16, of Santa Ana, and Levi Jacob Flores, 15, of Garden Grove; the CHP says none wore seat belts and has not identified the driver.
- Sep 5, 19:00(2 days ago)
NBC LA airs interviews with the Delgado and Flores families; the fourth teen remains in critical condition and CHP has not named a driver.
- NEW3 days ago
Three teenagers were killed and one person was injured when an SUV veered off the road on the 5 Freeway in Orange County. On Sept. 3, California Highway Patrol officers responded to a crash on the southbound lanes of the freeway near Lincoln Avenue around 3:15 a.m. Investigators said the driver of a
- NEW4 days ago
The Orange County coroner has identified three teenagers who were killed when an SUV veered off the 5 Freeway in Anaheim and struck a concrete pillar.
- NEW5 days ago
Two people were killed and two others were injured in a crash on the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, forcing the closure of several southbound lanes Thursday morning.