Authorities are investigating whether speeding caused a fatal traffic collision Sunday afternoon on Pacific Coast Highway west of Jamboree Road, Newport Beach police said Monday.
Driver Joseph Michael Silvia lost control, causing the car to collide with a light pole, killing him and hospitalizing passenger Matthew Biscan, police said. Speed appeared to be a factor, but Newport Beach Police Lt. Bill Hartford declined to say whether Silvia was driving faster than the limit.
The accident blocked traffic for 3½ hours on Pacific Coast Highway, Hartford said, especially noticeable with heavy traffic at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Police said Silvia, a 28-year-old Alta Loma resident, was driving a red Dodge Viper convertible eastbound on PCH between Promontory Point Drive and Jamboree Road when he lost control of the vehicle and smashed into the light pole. His passenger, 21-year-old Upland resident Biscan, suffered only minor injuries and was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian for treatment.
Alcohol does not appear to have factored into the crash, Hartford said, adding the cause of the accident might not be discovered for some time