Caleb Ezequiel Mendoza dies in fatal Anaheim car crash
Fatal Anaheim car crash death of Caleb Ezequiel Mendoza
The Orange County Coroner confirmed the identities of the three fatalities involved in a severe collision that started as a police chase early Wednesday. The deceased individuals were identified as 22-year-old Brandon Antonio Ayala Herrera from Huntington Park, 20-year-old Caleb Ezequiel Mendoza from Maywood, and 27-year-old Luis Alejandro Mendez-Carbajal from Panorama City. This involved three young adults. Two people inside the vehicle survived but suffered serious injuries. They were being chased by Anaheim Police Department officers following reports they had entered a car.
According to initial reports, the fatal crash happened on the northbound section of the 5 Freeway close to Brookhurst Street in Anaheim about 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Police located the suspect vehicle, which sped away at high velocity during its flight along the freeway. The car crashed approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes later, around 3:25 a.m., near Brookhurst Street. It landed on its roof on an embankment beside the highway. This resulted in a multi-hour traffic stoppage affecting both directions of the freeway.
The two surviving individuals inside the vehicle are reported to be in stable or critical condition. The California Highway Patrol is investigating this incident.
