Father Dies Teaching Teen Daughter to Drive in Laguna Beach Crash

A tragic accident occurred in Laguna Beach when 64-year-old James Politoski died while teaching his 15-year-old daughter to drive. During the driving lesson in a shopping center parking lot, the car reportedly went out of control, crashed through a fence, and tumbled down a 40-foot embankment onto Coast Highway, landing upside down. Authorities suspect the teenager confused the gas and brake pedals, leading to the crash. Politoski was pronounced dead at the scene, while his daughter was seriously injured and taken to Mission Hospital, where she remains in stable condition. The incident has deeply affected the community, highlighting the dangers that can occur even during supervised driving lessons. Police and fire responders arrived promptly after a 911 call, and the vehicle struck a parked car before coming to rest.