The five most dangerous roads or intersections in Mission Viejo

No one can forget the deadly crash in 2007 that claimed the lives of all three of Chris and Lori Cobles’ children. Lori was traveling on the I-5 South, leaving the ferris wheel at the Irvine Spectrum, when traffic began to slow near the Oso Parkway exit in Mission Viejo. As Lori, approached Crown Valley Parkway, traffic abruptly slowed, as is normal for this section of the freeway.

A semi-truck, driven by Jorge Miguel Romero, 37, of Apple Valley, slammed into the rear of their mini-van, crushing it like a soda can and pushing it into the vehicle in front.

This horrible collision is just one example of the several accidents that occur on this section of the highway and makes it one of the most dangerous sections of roadway in Mission Viejo.

Following is a list of the top five most dangerous roads or intersections in Mission Viejo. This list was compiled by our firm from city data, CHP records, and publication articles from the last ten years.

1. Oso Parkway Exit of the I-5 South

The defendant in the Coble accident, Romero said he saw traffic slowing approaching the Oso exit, but couldn’t stop his semi-truck in time. Vehicles are all speeding and jockeying to make lane changes before the two main exits of Oso and Crown Valley Parkways. This concentration of activity is the cause of several accidents each year.

2. Olympiad Road at Alicia Parkway

Alicia Parkway is one of Mission Viejo’s main roads to the I-5 freeway and one of the community’s most highly congested streets, according to OC Sheriff’s Deputies. A shopping center, a park, and a residential neighborhood off of Olympiad Road add to traffic at the intersection.
Last year there were four serious crashes here where five people were hurt, four of them severely. Drunken driving, failure to stop and wait at a red arrow, and improper driving were all causes of these accidents.

3. Alicia Parkway and Jeronimo Road

The Gateway Shopping Center, a large Target, and several commercial complexes surround this intersection. These are all regular destinations for drivers and cause abrupt lane changes, turns, and stops.

The population density in Mission Viejo is 2225% higher than California numbers according to areavibes.com. Unfortunately road upgrades fail to keep up with the growing numbers of people calling Mission Viejo their home, leading to this main intersection’s risky congestion.

4. Alicia Parkway and Muirlands

Alicia Parkway makes the list again, but this time at the intersection of Muirlands Boulevard.

Homeowners in the Aegean Hills area of El Toro complain of speeders who are approaching this intersection. The other residential neighborhoods around this area of Mission Viejo complain of traffic congestion, noise, and safety risks.
(LA Times)
The recent widening of Alicia Parkway between Muirlands Boulevard and Charlinda Drive has provided some relief but hasn’t exempted this intersection from being one of the city’s most dangerous.

5.Puerta Real and Crown Valley Parkway

Our firm’s Mission Viejo office is located on Puerta Real, giving us first hand experience with the congestion found at this intersection. And it’s no wonder why there are so many drivers here, as the Shops at Mission Viejo and the Kaleidoscope outdoor mall are on opposing sides of the intersection. There are also many gas stations on both sides of it, as well as the entrance to the northbound I-5 freeway.

Last year, there were 440 collisions in Mission Viejo, and more than half of those resulted in severe injuries and some in death. (CHP) Because the city offers so many popular destinations, such as the mall, intersections like this one become busy and dense with vehicles.

In 2004, 2007, and 2009 fatal traffic accidents in Mission Viejo exceeded the statewide average by a substantial amount. Due to measures and projects aimed at making roads in Mission Viejo safer, those averages have decreased considerably in recent years.

However, as Mission Viejo continues to grow with both business and residents, these five main intersections continue to pose significant hazards to drivers.