Collision in Irvine Ties Up Traffic for Over 3 1/2 Hours : Driver Reportedly Falls Asleep

A driver who police said apparently fell asleep at the wheel this morning sent his pickup truck plunging into an Irvine intersection, ramming two other vehicles, seriously injuring another driver and snarling rush-hour traffic leading to the San Diego and Santa Ana freeways for more than 3 1/2 hours.

The truck veered off the roadway at about 7:30 a.m. as it was being driven east on Irvine Center Drive, barely missing two traffic light standards before hurtling into the intersection at Culver Drive, police said.

It slammed into a Porsche and a small pickup truck waiting on Culver Drive to turn left. The force of the collision overturned the sports car and left the truck resting atop the other two vehicles.

Intersection Sprayed With Foam

Firefighters hurriedly covered the intersection with foam to prevent spilled gasoline from igniting.

The seriously injured driver of the sports car--identified by police as Dennis Bruce, 38, of Irvine--was rescued from the wreckage by firefighters, who summoned a helicopter to take him to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. His condition could not be immediately determined.

The driver of the out-of-control pickup truck--Thomas Rodriguez, 59, of Santa Ana--was also taken to Western Medical with less severe injuries, according to Irvine police.

Investigation Continuing

A hospital spokeswoman said Bruce and Rodriquez were in stable condition.

Officers said that Rodriguez has not been cited in the accident and that the investigation is continuing.

The driver of the small pickup truck--Richard Laver, 19, of Santa Ana--escaped with minor injuries, police said.

The accident caused a major traffic tie-up at the height of the weekday rush hour. Police blocked off more than a mile of Culver Drive, causing many commuters to improvise alternate routes to the San Diego and Santa Ana freeways.

“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” Traffic Sgt. Jim Lowder said.