Fountain Valley, CA (May 26, 2025) – A fatal crash involving a pedestrian occurred Saturday night in Fountain Valley, followed shortly by a separate incident in which a suspected DUI driver struck a parked police vehicle at the same location, according to local authorities.
Accident Details: The first collision took place at approximately 10:32 p.m. on May 25 along Warner Avenue at Los Jardines West. A gray Toyota Corolla traveling westbound struck a pedestrian, 35-year-old Alexandra Payerli of Santa Ana, who had been running southbound into the intersection from Mile Square Park. Emergency responders transported Payerli to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
The driver, a 17-year-old male from Westminster, remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Police stated that neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be involved in the initial incident. Authorities are continuing to review traffic footage and witness statements to determine whether speed, lighting, or visibility may have played a role.
Legal Considerations: In cases involving pedestrian fatalities, families may be entitled to pursue wrongful death claims to address funeral expenses and loss of support. These claims hinge on whether the driver’s actions deviated from standard duty of care. Although the Toyota driver is cooperating and initial reports rule out impairment, further analysis of intersection conditions and timing could determine whether civil liability applies.
Additionally, the teen driver’s age may introduce further legal scrutiny. California law requires provisional license holders under 18 to adhere to specific restrictions, and any violation could influence fault assessments.
Ongoing Investigation: While officers investigated the pedestrian fatality, a separate driver crashed into a stationary Fountain Valley police unit at the scene. The police car was unoccupied at the time, and no officers were injured. Authorities arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI.
This second incident has raised additional concerns about safety at crash scenes, particularly at night and in high-traffic areas. The identity of the DUI driver has not been released, and investigators have not announced whether additional charges will be filed.
The Fountain Valley Police Department continues to investigate both collisions and asks anyone with information about the pedestrian crash to contact 714-593-4481 and reference Incident #25-16166.
Source: New Santa Ana