NEWPORT BEACH : Police Check Crash of Cab That Injured 3

Police said they are investigating whether a cab driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when his cab crashed into a trash container early Thursday morning, injuring himself and his two passengers.

Michael Waterhause, 36, of Costa Mesa, a driver for West Coast Cab Co., mangled the front of the car when he hit the trash container in front of a house in the 700 block of Bayside Drive about 1:30 a.m., Police Sgt. Ron Rogers said.

Waterhause was driving at a “pretty fast pace, based on the appearance of the vehicle,” Rogers added.

Waterhause was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian with severe chest and internal injuries, Police Lt. Paul Henisey said.

One of the passengers, Steve Berry, 37, of Newport Beach, was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana with broken facial bones, Henisey said. The other passenger, Karl Kogmos, 37, also of Newport Beach, suffered a broken femur and was taken to Hoag, Henisey said.

All three were listed in serious condition Thursday, Henisey said. None of the three was wearing a seat belt, he said.

Waterhause was not cited, pending results of a blood test, Henisey said.

Henisey said that he did not know how well the trash container was marked but said it was well within the parking lane on Bayside.