Fallbrook man involved in crash that hospitalized actor Ferrell

MISSION VIEJO - Actor Will Ferrell has been released from a hospital after being treated for minor injuries sustained when the SUV he was riding in collided with another vehicle and overturned on the northbound San Diego (5) Freeway in the Mission Viejo area.

Ferrell, 50, and three other people were in a 2017 Lincoln SUV that overturned after it was sideswiped by a 2007 Toyota at 10:50 p.m. Thursday north of La Paz Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A statement from United Talent Agency said Ferrell and a colleague, Andew Steele, were released from the hospital Friday.

The SUV driver, identified as longtime Ferrell employee, Mark Thompson, and another associate, Carolina Barrow, 27, of Los Angeles, remain hospitalized in stable condition. Barrow was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered the most serious injuries, according to CHP Officer Rafael Reynoso.

“Will is staying close by as his friends are being treated and has expressed his deep gratitude to the first responders who were immediately at the scene and to the hospital team that took such great care of them,'' the UTA statement said. “He's also grateful for all the well wishes he and his friends are receiving.''

The two vehicles were northbound on the freeway with the SUV in the HOV lane when Jacob Espinoza, 22, of Fallbrook, veered to the left and struck the front portion of the SUV for unknown reasons, according to the CHP. The SUV slammed into the center divider median and flipped over, the CHP reported.

“It could have ended up a lot worse,'' Reynoso said. “(Barrow) got tossed around the vehicle during the incident. Luckily, no one was seriously, seriously injured as a result of this incident.''

No one has been cited or arrested, and investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol played a part in the collision, Reynoso said.

The celebrity news website TMZ.com reported Ferrell was on his way back from a ``Funny or Die'' event outside San Diego where he appeared as Ron Burgundy, a character he played in the 2004 film ``Anchorman'' and a 2014 sequel