LOS ANGELES, CA – An 88-year-old man died Thursday after a tragic accident in a parking structure at the Irvine Spectrum Center, a popular shopping destination in Southern California, authorities confirmed.
The Irvine Police Department identified the victim as Robert Ray Bell of Laguna Woods.
According to a news release issued by the police department, the incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. at the 100 block of Spectrum Center Drive, near one of the parking structure exits.
Investigators believe Bell had stopped his Mazda SUV at the exit gate to pay for parking when the vehicle unexpectedly began to move forward. Officials said it appeared that Bell had failed to shift the gear into park before stepping out of the car to access the payment machine.
As the SUV rolled forward, its open driver’s door struck the parking equipment and swung shut, trapping Bell between the door and the frame of the vehicle.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the incident unfold, and a good Samaritan attempted to assist Bell while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
Firefighters and paramedics provided medical treatment at the scene before transporting Bell to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries, authorities said.
Officials did not release additional details about the incident, but the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities have encouraged any witnesses with information about the accident to contact the Irvine Police Department at 949-724-7000.
The Irvine Spectrum Center, a high-traffic retail and entertainment hub, draws thousands of visitors daily. The accident has raised concerns about parking structure safety, particularly involving automatic payment systems.
While the police department has not indicated whether malfunctions in the payment equipment played any role, they emphasized the importance of ensuring vehicles are properly secured when exiting for payment processing.
Officials have not released further updates but said the findings of the investigation will help determine if any safety measures need to be reviewed or adjusted within the parking facilities at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
In the meantime, the shopping center expressed condolences to the victim’s family and is cooperating fully with the investigation.
