Driver critical after head-on accident

By Jeff Pope

Sunday, July 5, 2009 | 1:07 p.m.

A female driver is listed as being in critical condition after her car struck a palm tree, then another car, Sunday morning.

The crash occurred about 8:44 a.m. on Eastern Avenue near Berkley Avenue, south of Stewart Avenue.

According to Metro Police, the woman was driving a 1995 Honda Accord north on Eastern at a high rate of speed when the car struck a tree in the median, continued into oncoming traffic and hit a 1993 Chevrolet Lumina head on.

The driver of the Honda, who has not been identified, was taken to the University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The 40-year-old female driver of the Lumina, identified as Consuelo Lechuga, and a 17-year-old male passenger also were taken to UMC with moderate injuries.

Police said speed and alcohol on the part of the driver of the Honda appear to be the cause of the collision, which remains under investigation.