The Antelope Valley Times

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Driver dies in rear-end collision with big rig

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The fatal collision left the Honda Civic partially wedged under the trailer. Photo Credit: LUIS MEZA
Photo Credit: LUIS MEZA

ANTELOPE VALLEY  – A man was killed Saturday afternoon when he lost control of his vehicle on the Antelope Valley Freeway and slammed into a big rig tractor trailer.

The fatal collision happened around 5:25 p.m., according to a California Highway Patrol Report.

The man was driving a 2008 Honda Civic northbound in the No. 3 lane at a high rate of speed near the Vista Point, the report states.

For an unknown reason, the Honda Civic turned to the right, drove over a raised median curb, and crashed into the back of a big rig tractor trailer, the report states.

Photo Credit: LUIS MEZA

The big rig was parked along the east curb of the raised median inside the Lamont Odette Vista Point.

The collision left the Honda Civic partially wedged under the trailer.

The driver, who was the sole occupant in the vehicle, died at the scene.

UPDATED 6/10/12: The driver of the Honda Civic was Michael  John Gonzalez, 29, of Santa Clarita according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

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36 comments for "Driver dies in rear-end collision with big rig"

  1. what can i say ai a time like this, i will keep the gonzales family in my prayers and i do know better days will come. so hard when a love one pass on but we must put all trust in the heavley father and know that he is in a better place now, my heart breaks for you all god bless the parents. will see you soon joyce,

  2. I am just reading this article for the first time. My heart is very heavy for my family. Michael was an AMAZING young man. He had the deepest love for his famiy. Michael loved Animals. Had a loving best bud (baby) his dog. My nephew was handsome, intelligent, and caring to everyone, he loved to draw expressive pictures that represented his love for his family and friends. Very talented! I loved this little boy! that became a young man.
    Michael will live forever in the hearts that loved and knew him.
    Love auntie Sandra

    • I’m so so sorry for you and your Familey. Death and a quick one is so hard to understand. God bless you and yours

  3. This goes out to the “”GONZALES FAMILY”” “may your son rest in peace”–and may “GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY and your FRIEND’s and may he also “BLESS YOUR SON’S FRIEND’S AS WELL” take care and goodluck in all you may all ever do….xoxoxoxo RESPECTFULLY LANEY OVERTON

  4. Ahh from what I undrstand this kid was driving too fast and wasn’t paying attention. Its nice that he didn’t kill anyone else with his reckless driving, maybe you other people should stay off the cellphone while driving also.

  5. Aw I passed through the scene when I saw the cops trying to figure out how they were going to take the body out. I felt so bad. I really was thinking about the call the family would get. I give my condolence to his family, that is the worst way someone can die. Dying at impact must be horrible, you must see your whole life in a matter of seconds rewind. I really feel bad, I thought it was an old man that had died, not a young adult.

    • Sorry, but I can think of many worse ways to die. This is not the worst way to die.

      • And before the editors decide to remove my comment (I really do applaud their decision to censor this forum to that end), let me clarify that in no way do I mean disrespect to the family. Although the young man made a horrible choice to speed excessively, the tragic loss on his family is not a just desert of that choice. I was only taking issue over the subjective opinion that this is (implicitly objectively) the worst say to day, in suddent impact. I personally am of the opinion that a slow, torturous death is a far worse way to die, and that is all I mean by my statement.

  6. This is what is going to happen if our CITY OF PALMDALE does not change the truck route on Ave S. It is not a truck route and they are all coming down it like a bat out of …You can hear the screeching of the breaks. Do we have to have more deaths due to the City not doing their job?
    So sorry to the family that lost a loved one.

    • I’m sorry, but I fail to see the connection between this tragic accident on the 14 freeway and the issue that you are claiming on Avenue S, or how it is somehow the city’s fault.

    • This comment does seem off. Perhaps you meant to post it under the overturned big rig story?

  7. My heart also goes out to his family and his friends. This is the first accident I witnessed and so closely as well. I do not know him and I do not believe anyone deserves this. I do know that he was going at an intensely fast rate as his vehicle literally whistled past ours like a rocket. We were going 70. In a split second, he almost took out my niece, my boyfriend and myself. That much I know and as I’ve been searching for answer myself, I know the family can only have so many more. I truly am sorry for the loss of a loved one, but this also goes out as a lesson for everyone. Be careful and slow down.

  8. After reading all these comments I feel 100 times worse for this kid and his Family,I know how hard it is as we just lost a 22 year old nephew last week in a horrid accident at work..people that make assumptions and talk crap about things they couldn’t even know only hurts the family even more then they already are….
    I AM SO SORRY, MAY GOD HAVE HIS HAND ON ALL OF YOU RIGHT NOW GIVING YOU HIS PEACE,UNDERSTANDING AND HIS LOVE!
    The one’s on here with only rude comments should try to remove them.

    • Thank you for posting this comment sir. I am the aunt. Michael was a wonderful young man, and will be greatly missed by his whole family. My sister will never be the same.

  9. First of all, let me say that I have no connection to anyone involved in this incident. I did drive by it a couple of hours after it happened and was saddened to see that someone had lost their life, for whatever reason. Secondly, Ace, OF COURSE MR. GONZALEZ WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED!! He was on the freeway!! Would you have had him slow down to 55 only to be rear ended by someone else who was traveling at the speed limit? Have you even stopped to consider the possibility that Mr. Gonzalez could have had a heart attack or some other medical emergency behind the wheel, causing him to veer off uncontrollably? No, you are narrow minded and insulting and you just assumed the worst. You know, it’s not even the fact that you have such horrible things to say to a group of people that you are not even connected to, it’s the fact that you are saying them to the family of a dead man that is the most disconcerting of all.

    • Eric,
      Thank you very much for expressing exactly what I was thinking. Unfortunately you are wasting your time with Ace.
      Ace makes these types of comment to bait and agitate people at the worse possible times in hopes of getting some type of reaction. When you respond to him he is rewarded with the attention he so desperately seeks.
      He is sympathetically bankrupt so he will never understand the harm he causes to families and loves ones from his cold hearted statements. I have tried several times to get him banned from commenting here, but my complaints have fallen on deaf ears. At this point, all we can do is ignore him.
      To the family of Michael Gonzalez: As hard as it may be, please try to ignore the heartless comments made by Ace in Pearblossom. Resist the urge to answer him back. Know that 99.99% of the readers here are extremely sorry for the pain you are feeling now and hope that you can find the strength and comfort you need to make it through the dark days ahead. We also pray that Michael Gonzalez is in a better place. Please do not waste a minute dwelling on anything negative, just think of all the times he made you smile and lock those precious memories into your hearts. God bless you and God bless Michael Gonzalez.

      • You’re right, S. I was just so incensed that “Ace” could be so disrespectful and demeaning to the family of a man who seemingly had no intention of making Saturday his last day on Earth. I should have never given Ace the satisfaction of a reply. We should all just focus on supporting the friends and family of Mr. Gonzalez during this difficult time.

  10. Me and my father watched this happen, so sad to see that happen. Our prayers go out to family. Never saw an accident in my life, wish I didn’t see this. R.I.P.

      • Sorry, I was not being rude in anyway to the family or friends of Mr.Gonzalez..I have do not know the facts of how fast he was going nor does anyone else here…I do not know if he had a medical condition that caused him to crash or what the case may be, I just know it is a tragedy to lose someone young and my heart goes out to his faily, praying for their healing.

  11. This was a tragedy I did drive by the scene and I would want to know everything as a mother and all u can say is there was wreckage but I didn’t see much else the firemen and chp were working to get the person out of the car I doubt they were thinking about who is watching.. like I said I didn’t see a person at all… My heart goes out to the family there are really no words unless you been in this situation. No seat bealt would have saved him.he’s in heaven now my god bless him and his family and help them through these difficult times….

  12. Well my heart goes out to the family..I did drive by the scene and i must say I did see wreckage but nothing else I saw firemen using the jaws of life I got a good view and honestly I saw nothing.. I’m sure no seat belt would have made a difference.what he was doing at the time doesn’t really matter this is someone’s son brother etc… My guess is he didn’t know what hit him and I think that’s important I have children and I would be dying

    • tHIS IS MY SONS COUSIN MY BOYFRIENDS NEPHEW MY PRAYERS AND HEART GOES OUT TO THE GONZALEZ FAMILY.. THIS IS SO TERRIBLE AND IM SO SORRY THIS HAPPENED. RAY STAY STRONG I DONT WANT TO LOOSE YOU…I LOVE YOU
      RIP MICHEAL GONZALEZ

  14. we do obey the laws lady..It’s the other people just that don’t obey them and my cousin was not one to not obey them..let him rest in peace now and move on with your lifes, you people did not even know him so please stop gussuping.!!

    • He was my young cousin. His Dad was my first cousin..I just heard about it last night by another cousin. Thank you for you saying what you saw, i know it was very hard for you but it is worse for us. he was a good and smart kid. he wasn’t in any gangs or into trouble. just a normal child. Thank you for speaking the trueth. some people just don’t have the discence of cover kids and thats what i don’t understand abiut cops something. I must go ow, it is very hard for me to even read this stiry..May god be with you.

    • Michael was my cousin. What would possibly make you think it would be ok to say something like that when his family is almost guaranteed to see it. Please remove your comment before his mother sees it. THINK before you type next time.

      • Auntie Toni saw it April. Ignore these people who are cruel. We have to stick together as a family!

  16. People!!! Please have some respect! Mike was my husbands best friend. He was a good person who didn’t deserve to die. [removed] you all!

    • Mike was my cousin, his Dad louie is my firt cousin, and i am taking this hard just as much as you are. People please respect my young cousin and stop making remarks about him if you do not know hi..Thahnk you.

  17. Have some freaking respect. This man was my little brother’s best friend. His own older brother was caught in the traffic resulting from the accident.