Man whose car hit retaining wall in Newport Beach dies

NEWPORT BEACH A 81-year-old man died after apparently passing out behind the wheel and crashing into a retaining wall Monday morning.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, said Sgt. Kirk Jacobi of the Newport Beach Police Department.

A Newport Beach Police traffic officer takes measurements by a retaining wall just west of Prospect Street on West Coast Highway in Newport Beach, after a man died after apparently passing out behind the wheel.

RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE ORANGE REGISTER

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Orange County Coroner's Office officials Monday night identified the man as John Shattuck of Newport Beach.

The crash was reported about 8:40 a.m. near the intersection of West Coast Highway and Prospect Street, Jacobi said. All but one of the eastbound lanes along West Coast Highway was blocked as police investigated the crash.

The crash is under investigation, but police believe the driver passed out before crashing into the wall. He is believed to have died of natural causes, Coroner's Office officials said.

"A driver behind him saw him slumped toward the steering wheel," Jacobi said.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

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Man whose car hit retaining wall in Newport Beach dies