Vintage Jaguar Driver Killed In 73 Toll Road Crash

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A man was killed on the 73 Toll Road Tuesday when his vintage 1959 Jaguar was struck by a speeding BMW 540i driven by a 19-year-old Glendale man, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash happened at 3:56 p.m. Tuesday near Irvine Boulevard. According to the CHP, the BMW was heading southbound at a high rate of speed when it slammed into the Jaguar as it headed northbound. The BMW then struck the center divider before coming to a stop. The Jaguar was pushed up a roadside embankment before colliding with a road sign and flipping repeatedly. It landed on the freeway shoulder, and the driver died at the scene, the CHP reported.

The crash investigation shut down several lanes of the freeway Tuesday.

Nineteen-year-old Eric Arakelyan suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Authorities withheld the identity of the Jaguar driver pending notification of his family.

"Excessive speed is believed to be a factor in this collision," the CHP reported. "Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the collision."

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Officer Cavenaugh at the Santa Ana Area office at (714) 567-6000.