News from the community.
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Crash on PCH
A motorcyclist suffered major injuries after colliding with a vehicle on West Coast Highway over the weekend, Newport Beach Police Department reported in a community message released on Tuesday.
Police were notified of the crash at PCH and Tustin Avenue at 3:53 p.m. Saturday. A black Honda motorcycle and a black Nissan Frontier were both traveling eastbound on PCH when they collided, police explained.
Newport Beach Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and transported the motorcyclist to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana for medical attention and evaluation. The driver of the truck was not injured,
An initial investigation indicates that alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to be contributing factors in this incident, according to police.
The cause of the collision is under investigation at this time.
Anyone with additional information about this collision is encouraged to contact Investigator Dave Darling at (949) 644-3746 or ddarling@nbpd.org.
Old Course Drive Home Damaged in Fire
Firefighters from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa were dispatched to a fire at 12 Old Course Dr. around 4 a.m. Monday, officials reported.
The first firefighters on scene noticed heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the two-story residence. The size and intensity of the blaze threatened the neighboring home at 10 Old Course Dr., according to NBFD. Firefighters quickly deployed a hose line to protect the house next door, while other crews simultaneously entered the home to search for inhabitants and extinguish the fire. After entering the house, firefighters found fire on both floors and in a large outdoor patio enclosure.
Despite poor visibility and high heat, firefighters quickly searched the house for occupants and knocked down the fire.
Firefighters confined the fire to the home of origin, but the house and outdoor patio sustained major fire and smoke damage. The prompt deployment of an exposure line by firefighters prevented fire damage to 10 Old Course Drive. Four residents were displaced by the fire.
The estimated fire damage was $400,000 in structure and $50,000 in personal belongings. The fire cause is under investigation.
Four fire engines, two ladder trucks, two battalion chiefs, one paramedic ambulance, and a fire investigator were assigned to the incident.
Citywide Streetlight Conversion Project
Newport Beach is upgrading approximately 3,100 streetlight fixtures to energy-efficient and cost-effective LED fixtures, officials announced in a city message this week.
The conversion will potentially save the city more than $100,000 annually in energy costs and an estimated $55,000 in yearly maintenance costs, according to the statement sent out on Tuesday.
“As the new LED fixtures are installed, community members will notice a whiter light is cast compared to the traditional and less-efficient fixtures,” the message reads. “Whiter lighting generally improves nighttime visibility and it provides a uniform distribution of light.”
Express Energy Services, Inc., the contractor on the project, will begin installing the new fixtures on Monday and anticipates finishing up by fall. EES will work through the city in a systematic, area-by-area fashion.
The impact on residents will likely be minimal, city officials noted.
Each streetlight conversion takes 30 minutes or less. Neighborhood access will be maintained. Regular working hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; however, some areas (i.e., East/West Coast Highway) have been identified for nighttime work to minimize traffic impacts. Nighttime working hours are generally from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The project also addresses light pollution and reduces greenhouse gas emissions
For more information, call Iris Lee at (949) 644-3323 or email ilee@newportbeachca.gov.
Increased DUI Patrols Planned through Labor Day Weekend
Groups of family and friends will be celebrating the end of summer during the upcoming Labor Day weekend, and police sent out a community message this week warning residents of drunk drivers on the road during the holiday.
“It’s also a dangerous time for America’s roadways, as many drunk drivers make the wrong decision and get behind the wheel,” Newport Beach Police Department officials wrote in the statement.
As part of ongoing efforts to stop drunk driving and help save lives, NBPD is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a national enforcement campaign dubbed “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” the message explains.
Local law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk drivers between Aug. 19 through Sept. 5. Throughout the 18-day campaign period, local police, sheriff, and CHP personnel will be on the lookout for the tell-tale signs of impaired driving.
As part of the program, NBPD will hold a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city. They are also adding special roving DUI Saturation Patrols to their regular staffing starting on Wednesday.
During the 2014 Labor Day holiday weekend (measured from 6 p.m. on Aug. 29 through 5:59 a.m. on Sept. 2), 40 percent of all fatal crashes that occurred involved drunk drivers, according to NBPD.
One aspect that is often overlooked it that of pedestrians who have had too much to drink, police noted. Walking while intoxicated can be deadly, as lack of attention can put a pedestrian at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.
Funding for the extra DUI enforcement operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
