Driver Arrested for DUI After Vehicle Collision Destroys Newport Boulevard Utility Pole
COSTA MESA, CA — A severe vehicle collision occurred near the intersection of Newport Boulevard and Wilson Street on Friday, June 12, 2026, at approximately 10:10 p.m when a vehicle struck and destroyed a utility pole. The collision resulted in widespread power outages. Responding law enforcement officers quickly located the vehicle involved, which had crashed into a Southern California Edison utility pole at the intersection.
The violent impact caused active, live power lines to collapse onto the municipal traffic signal pole that regulates vehicle flow on East Wilson Street at Newport Boulevard. Upon contacting the driver at the scene, officers noted visible signs of impairment. Following a roadside sobriety investigation, the driver—identified as 40-year-old Agustin Esquivel Garcia of Ontario, California—was placed under arrest on charges of driving under the influence (DUI).
The intersection was entirely closed to vehicular traffic while emergency crews from Southern California Edison and the City Public Works department cleared the debris and worked to safely restore electrical service. While the majority of the utility repairs were completed by early Saturday morning, June 13, 2026, the damaged traffic signal required further technical work and was successfully restored to full operation later that same day.
