Two died in a hatchback that was rear-ended before catching fire in an Irvine gated community Sunday, July 17, and the driver of the car that hit them was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired, authorities said.

Officers summoned to the crash at Meadow Valley and Spring Valley in the Northpark gated community just after 8 p.m. encountered a Mini Cooper engulfed in flames and a heavily damaged Volkswagen Golf, Irvine Police Lt. Bill Bingham said.

Two people were found dead inside the scorched car after it was doused by firefighters.

Two people were killed in the gated community of Northpark in Irvine on Sunday when two cars collided on a residential street. One of the drivers, Jack Varganagi, 20, was arrested for driving under the influence, Irvine police said on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Two people were killed in the gated community of Northpark in Irvine on Sunday when two cars collided on a residential street. One of the drivers, Jack Varganagi, 20, was arrested for driving under the influence, Irvine police said on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Remnants of a crash are strewn along the street in the gated community of Northpark where two people died on Sunday in a two-car crash. One of the drivers, Jack Varganagi, 20, was arrested for driving under the influence, Irvine police said on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Two people were killed in the gated community of Northpark in Irvine on Sunday when two cars collided on a residential street. One of the drivers was arrested for driving under the influence, Irvine police said on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The preliminary investigation suggests the Volkswagen may have been speeding when it rear-ended the stopped Mini, sending the compact car from one side of the intersection to the other before it burst into flames, Bingham said.

The driver of the Golf, Jack Varganagl, 20, of Irvine was treated at a hospital before he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, Bingham said. Police did not specify what he might have taken that evening.

Coroner’s officials were attempting to confirm the identities of the two people who died, Bingham said.

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