Laguna Woods man dies in canyon crash

An 85-year-old Laguna Woods man died Monday after the car he was driving struck a utility pole on Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach police said.

The crash occurred at 2:45 p.m. in the 1900 block. Police and Laguna Beach firefighters arrived on scene to find the man unconscious and began CPR, Sgt. Tim Kleiser wrote in an email.

Eugene Fisch was pronounced dead upon arrival at Saddleback Memorial Hospital in Laguna Hills, Orange County Supervising Deputy Coroner Larry Esslinger said.

Fisch’s wife, who was in the car, was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Police said they did not know the extent of her injuries.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash, but it appears Fisch may have had a medical emergency that led him to veer off the road, Kleiser said.

Monday’s accident was the latest involving power poles on Laguna Canyon Road. On July 3, a brush fire started after two trees fell and struck a power line, releasing sparks.

Less than a week after the fire, Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen vowed to put increased pressure on Southern California Edison officials to underground utility lines as an urgent public safety matter.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce