UPDATE: SANTA ANA, Calif. — A grieving father has confirmed that his 19-year-old daughter, Arely Robles, was among the four people killed in a tragic crash over the weekend in Santa Ana. Her father, Ignacio Robles, visited a growing memorial at the crash site on Monday, speaking emotionally about the young woman whose life was cut short.
Arely’s younger sister, Arlene Robles, was also involved in the crash and remains hospitalized in grave condition. A third individual was also transported to the hospital. The family is now left clinging to hope as they pray for Arlene’s recovery while mourning Arely’s sudden loss.
“They weren’t drunk or on drugs,” Mr. Robles said, addressing speculation surrounding the incident. “It was an accident — and that was it.”
He described Arely as a gentle and quiet soul. “Very calm,” he said through tears. “She was always so peaceful.”
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the Robles family cover funeral and medical expenses. The community has responded with an outpouring of support, offering prayers, condolences, and donations.
The Santa Ana Unified School District also confirmed on Monday that some of the crash victims were students at Valley High School and Carr Intermediate School, though they did not publicly name those involved out of respect for the families.
“Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this devastating accident,” the district said in a statement. “We are providing grief counselors at the affected schools to support students and staff during this difficult time.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by authorities, who have not yet released additional details about what led to the deadly incident.
As loved ones and the Santa Ana community continue to gather at the memorial site, candles, flowers, and handwritten notes bear witness to the heartbreak left behind. Amid the sorrow, Arely Robles is remembered as a kind young woman whose life was full of promise and who will be dearly missed.
EARLIER: Tragedy struck Santa Ana late Thursday night as a devastating single-vehicle crash claimed the lives of five people and left another critically injured. The collision, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. near West Segerstrom Avenue and South Townsend Street, involved six occupants in one vehicle — four of whom were teenagers.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree at a high rate of speed. The preliminary investigation reveals the male driver was traveling westbound on Segerstrom Avenue when he lost control of the vehicle and failed to navigate a turn, resulting in a violent collision with a tree in the center median.
The impact was catastrophic. Emergency responders arrived to find six victims — five females and one male — all of whom sustained significant injuries. Four individuals, including three juveniles and two adults, were pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth victim succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital. The sixth, also a juvenile, remains in critical condition.
Police confirmed that at least two of the victims were ejected from the vehicle, indicating they may not have been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. A nearby black sedan was also slightly damaged, though no occupants of that vehicle were injured.
The SAPD posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) around 1:30 a.m., alerting the public to the fatal collision and road closures in the area. The department closed off Segerstrom Avenue between Raitt Street and Greenville Street for several hours to allow for investigation and cleanup. Authorities also established a media staging area at the southwest corner of Townsend and Segerstrom, signaling the severity of the incident.
While the identities of the victims have not yet been released, police stated that all six occupants of the vehicle were related in some capacity. Investigators are looking into whether impairment or distracted driving may have played a role in the crash.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows a heavily damaged vehicle nearly split in half, lying beside a tree with debris scattered across the roadway. A large presence of emergency personnel — including fire crews, paramedics, and police — responded to the incident. At one point, fire crews were seen using ladders to access the mangled vehicle.
The loss has rocked the local community, with tributes and condolences beginning to pour in for the young lives lost. The investigation is ongoing, and SAPD is urging anyone with information or potential witnesses to come forward.
As the city of Santa Ana grapples with this heartbreaking loss, local officials are once again reminding drivers about the importance of speed control, seat belt use, and avoiding impaired driving.
This marks one of the deadliest crashes in the area in recent years.