A heartbreaking accident in Laguna Beach, California, has claimed the life of a 64-year-old man who was teaching his teenage daughter how to drive. Authorities confirmed that James Politoski, a longtime Laguna Beach resident, died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on the afternoon of Monday, May 26.
His 15-year-old daughter, who was behind the wheel with a learner’s permit, was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital. The Laguna Beach Police Department reported that the crash occurred around 2:43 p.m. near the area of Coast Highway, between Wesley Drive and Montage Resort Drive.
According to an initial investigation, the vehicle — which was being driven by the young teen — left the upper parking lot of Gelson’s Market, broke through a barrier fence, and descended a steep embankment before coming to rest on the Coast Highway below.
Emergency responders arrived quickly on the scene and attempted to assist both occupants of the vehicle. Tragically, Politoski was pronounced dead at the scene. His daughter was stabilized at the crash site and rushed to the hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Multiple news outlets, including KABC, the Los Angeles Times, and the Laguna Beach Independent, confirmed that Politoski was instructing his daughter at the time of the accident. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the exact circumstances that led to the crash, but they noted that the investigation is ongoing. No other vehicles were involved.
Lt. Jesse Schmidt, a spokesperson for the Laguna Beach Police Department, expressed the department’s sympathy and the broader impact of the tragedy on the community. “It’s a tragedy that certainly affects the immediate family, and it expands to our community,” Schmidt said in a statement.
“It’s a difficult situation when you’re dealing with an accident, and somebody loses their life. A father was being a good parent, trying to teach his daughter how to drive, which resulted in a tragedy like this. Our condolences go out to the family and the friends of these loved ones.”
The crash has left residents of Laguna Beach shaken, particularly those familiar with the popular Gelson’s Market parking lot, which sits above a steep hillside. Locals have voiced concerns about safety in the area, although officials have not indicated whether structural conditions played a role in the crash.
James Politoski was remembered by friends and neighbors as a kind, devoted father who was deeply involved in his daughter’s life. “He was always so patient with her,” said a neighbor who asked not to be named. “You could see how proud he was anytime they were out together. This is just unthinkably sad.”
The identity of the teenage driver has not been released due to her age, and police have not indicated whether any charges might be filed. The focus, they said, remains on supporting the grieving family and understanding exactly what went wrong.
As Laguna Beach mourns the sudden loss of a father who was simply trying to share a rite of passage with his daughter, the community is rallying around the surviving teen, whose life was forever altered in a moment of unimaginable heartbreak.
