Deputies revive driver after van hits tree

LANCASTER – A man who crashed his van into a tree Monday night is alive today thanks to the lifesaving efforts of Lancaster Station deputy J. Elizondo and Field Sergeant K. Turrill.

The incident happened around 8 p.m. Monday in the 2300 block of West Lancaster Boulevard where the pair responded to a report of a traffic collision.

When they arrived, they saw that a van had crashed into a tree. They quickly learned that the driver of the van was not breathing and had no pulse.

Working together, they immediately began CPR. They continued their efforts for several minutes until the driver began to take shallow breaths and a pulse was located.

The driver was transported to a local hospital by L.A. County Fire Paramedics, where he remains in critical condition.

While ensuring the crashed van was not a fire hazard, L.A. County Fire personnel found several bottles of an unknown liquid that had spilled in the rear of the van. Fearing the liquid may be hazardous in nature, the L.A. County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Unit responded.

During the incident, Lancaster Boulevard was closed between 25th Street West and Valley Central Way.

A nearby gas station was also evacuated and temporarily closed.

It was determined, that the liquid was some type of non- toxic household cleaning fluid.

The collision is being investigated by Lancaster Station’s Traffic Safety office.

(Information via press release from the Lancaster Station.)