2 injured after minivan crashes into special needs apartment building in Santa Ana

Woman critical after car crashes into home

Ayoleone Bufkin was sleeping on the couch when a car drove into her Santa Ana apartment, leaving her with severe injuries including an amputated foot.

SANTA ANA, Calif. - Two women were injured, one critically, after the driver of a minivan slammed into a Santa Ana apartment late Monday night.

Investigators believe the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when they drove straight into the victim’s first-floor apartment. She became trapped and Orange County firefighters worked to free her from the wreckage once they arrived at the Vista del Rio apartments located near the intersection of Memory Lane and The City Drive around 10:20 p.m. Residents said the apartment complex is for people with special needs and disabilities.

One of the women, identified as Ayoleone Bufkin, was taken to a trauma center in critical condition while the other victim was hospitalized with less severe injuries.

Santa Ana hit-and-run injures 2 women

Ayoleone Bufkin was critically injured after a car plowed into her Santa Ana apartment.

Bufkin's parents said she was asleep on the couch when the car crushed her. Bufkin suffered a torn bladder, a broken collarbone and a broken pelvis. Her leg was deprived of blood for so long that doctors had to amputate her foot.

"How the hell can you do this? You crippled an innocent person for life," said Bufkin's father Roland Gonzalez. "You've devastated her entire family for life, and you have the cojones to just run?"

Minivan smashes into special needs apartment building

A minivan smashed into an apartment complex that houses residents with special needs in Santa Ana.

The suspect took off from the scene in an unknown direction and left their minivan behind.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation and the search continues for the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Corporal N. Quinones at (714) 245-8216 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.