A 23-year-old woman died after being rear-ended on the I-405 during a multi-vehicle crash, Orange County Coroner's Office officials said Thursday.

Authorities say Deanna Mauer was in a 2006 Hyundai that was rear-ended in the No. 1 lane of the northbound I-405 near Edwards Street just before 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Mauer, as well as the driver of a 2006 Porsche in front of her, had slowed to stop for traffic congestion on the freeway, California Highway Patrol officials said.

A third driver in a 2006 Toyota failed to stop, crashing into the Hyundai and forcing it into the Porsche, the CHP said. Both the Toyota and the Hyundai ended up on the center divider.
Mauer was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she was pronounced dead just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, Supervising Deputy Coroner Larry Esslinger said.

According to a biography on the San Jose State athletics website, Mauer was a four-year letter winner on the Fountain Valley High School softball team. Mauer went on to play at Central Arizona College and at San Jose State, where she majored in health science, according to the school's website.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which also left two other people, a man and woman, with minor injuries. No arrests have been reported.