Community News

Fatal Traffic Collision in Lake Forest, Driver arrested for DUI

 

by: OCSD
Published: August 10, 2026

 

LAKE FOREST...Last Thursday, August 6, at 9:39 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of El Toro Road and Via Ridgeline Road in Lake Forest reference a traffic collision between two vehicles. 

Orange County Fire Authority arrived and found one adult male, in his 70’s, deceased.  The victim’s identity is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.  The driver of the other vehicle, Joel Obed MendezCamargo, 22, of Lake Forest, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into Orange County Jail for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is conducting the investigation into this fatal collision. Anyone with additional information that may assist in the investigation can contact MAIT at (949) 425-1860 or anonymous tips can be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS or www.ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.