Costa Mesa : Woman Passenger Dies After Car Collision

A Costa Mesa woman died Tuesday morning from injuries she suffered when a car driven by her husband was hit broadside by a speeding auto that failed to stop for a red traffic light, police said.

The victim, Ponnamma Nair, 43, died at 3:58 a.m. at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, about four hours after the accident, which occurred at Fairview Road and Paularino Avenue in Costa Mesa.

Police said that Ponnamma’s husband, Velayuden Nair, 39, was turning left onto Paularino from Fairview when his car was struck on the passenger side by an auto driven by Laurie Bird, 25, of Garden Grove.

Investigators and witnesses said that Bird’s car was traveling at about 65 m.p.h. in a 40-m.p.h. zone and failed to stop for the red light.

Bird suffered facial cuts and was listed in good condition at the Fountain Valley hospital. Velayuden Nair was taken to the same hospital, where he also was in good condition with a concussion and some bruises.

Bird was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving but was released from custody pending the results of blood tests to determine if she had an excessive amount of alcohol in her system, police said.