Drugs Blamed In Irving DUI Crash

When a person chooses to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs far too often, it can end in tragedy. Intoxication by alcohol, marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs can lead to impairment that can cause a lapse in judgment or the inability to avoid a crash.

Fox 11 in Los Angeles reports that such impairment may have led to the deaths of two people after a fiery crash in an Irvine residential neighborhood Sunday evening. A man has been arrested in connection to the incident.

Orange County authorities say that the two-vehicle crash happened on Sunday, July 17, near the intersection of Mountain Valley and Spring Valley just after 8:00 p.m.  

Firefighters with the Orange County Fire Department arrived on the scene to find a Mini Cooper engulfed in flames. The second vehicle involved in the crash was a Volkswagen Golf. 

Firefighters attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue the driver and passenger inside the Mini Cooper. However, the flames from the vehicle were too hot, and both occupants were declared dead at the scene.

The driver of the Volkswagen has been identified as 20-year-old Jack Varganagl of Irvine. Police arrested Varganagl at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. 

At the time of the report, investigators had not yet determined the cause of the fatal crash. However, Irvine Police Department officials said in a statement that it is possible that, in addition to the DUI charge, speed may have been a factor. 

The Irvine Police Department is asking anyone who may have any information regarding the crash to contact them at (949) 724-7024.

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