Police Files

Woman and her dog killed in crosswalk by suspected drunk driver

An as yet to be identified Newport Beach woman and her dog were killed in a crosswalk on Irvine Avenue early Sunday morning by a suspected drunk driver. 

The suspect, identified as Ali Zohair Fakhreddine, 31, of Riverside, allegedly ran a red light driving southbound on Irvine Avenue at Mesa Drive at about 6:34 a.m. Fakhreddine did not stop to help the victim and continued on southbound on Irvine Avenue. 

First responders pronounced the woman and her dog dead at the scene.

Witnesses reportedly got a partial description of the vehicle. Some three hours later, California Highway Patrol officers detained Fakhreddine with his vehicle, a 2014 Hyundai, having “fresh damage to the right front,” according to a press release. He was arrested on charges of suspicion of driving under the influence and being involved in a hit-and-run crash.

The CHP requests anyone with information on the collision to contact Officer J. Patterson at 714.567.6000.

The woman’s identity is being held until notification to her next of kin.

Pedestrian killed on Coast Highway

On Sunday, Aug. 30, at approximately 7 p.m., Newport Beach Police dispatch received a call concerning a vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision in the area of Coast Highway and Hoag Drive.

Details show the vehicle was traveling westbound on Coast Highway near the intersection of Hoag Drive and struck a pedestrian who was crossing outside the crosswalk.

The pedestrian was transported to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana where he succumbed to injuries several hours later.

The pedestrian was described as a 48-year-old male.

His name has not yet been released by the Orange County Coroner’s office.

No arrests were made.

Fire Files

Newport Beach firefighters return home, before being shipped out again

Newport Beach Fire Department (NBFD) returned all 17 of their personnel from the fires in Northern California last week. Many of the crew were working in the Napa, Vacaville, Santa Cruz and other counties for nearly two straight weeks before being released from their assignments. 

All crews were back for only a couple of days before the Valley Fire in San Diego County and El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino County broke out.

NBFD currently has one engine deployed to both incidents. Both engines have four NBFD personnel on them as of yesterday. 

As with all out of county strike teams, the NBFD engines responded with a group of other Orange County fire agencies. 

According to Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles, the high heat and low humidity this summer along with thousands of lightning strikes has created a recipe for extreme fire behavior across the Western United States.

“This fire season has already burned more total acreage than any other year in history, and we haven’t even started dealing with the Santa Ana winds yet,” Boyles said.

What’s on the Docket

Timothy DeCinces – Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 8:30 a.m. (Harbor Court 1)

This is a Pre-Trial Hearing.

Newport Beach real estate agent charged with felony counts each of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury and criminal threats and misdemeanor counts of soliciting, engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution, child abuse and endangerment.

Information is gathered from the Orange County District Attorney’s court file bank.

Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.