NEWHALL – A 20-year-old Palmdale man was killed Friday morning after his car drifted into the wrong lane, causing a large crash with four vehicles involved, authorities said.
The incident happened around 6:50 a.m. Friday (May 31) on Sierra Highway, just south of Shannondale Road in Newhall, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
Palmdale resident Eloy Hernandez was driving a 1995 Honda Civic northbound on Sierra Highway, at approximately 55 miles per hour, when he allowed his vehicle to drift left of the double yellow lines, according to the report.
Hernandez’s vehicle collided head on with a 2011 Toyota Tundra pickup truck that was travelling southbound on Sierra Highway, at approximately 55 miles per hour, the report states. The impact of the collision caused the pickup truck to crash into an adjacent vehicle – a 1996 Nissan Maxima that was traveling southbound on Sierra Highway, according to the report.
The second impact forced the Maxima off the west side of Sierra Highway and caused the pickup truck to overturn, the CHP report states.
Flying debris from the collision struck a 2012 Ford Mustang that was traveling southbound on Sierra Highway, a few car lengths behind the pickup truck, according to the report.
CHP officers, American Medical Response, and L.A. County Fire Department personnel responded to the scene.
Hernandez was treated at the scene and then airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The pickup truck’s driver, 36-year-old John S. Frahm of Palmdale, was transported by ambulance to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Nissan Maxima – 55-year-old Carlos Poblete of Lancaster – was transported to Palmdale Regional Hospital with minor injuries. No injuries were reported for the Ford Mustang’s driver, 52-year-old Kenneth Almodovar of Palmdale.
The incident remains under investigation, however, alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision at this time, according to the CHP report.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated that the crash happened Friday evening, but it was actually at 6:50 a.m. Friday morning (May 31, 2013).
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Joe says
There actually is a test for texting smart one. There called phone records. And spice? Really? You sound pretty ignorant. He wasn’t texting nor was he on drugs.
JUNe3 says
Yeah, and too bad there isn’t a test for spice. It make’s you like a zombie, and I know someone who told me they ran a red light while on it, and now they don’t drive while under the influence of it.
It is illegal, but there selling it in a different name, at some of the tabacco shops.
Bob says
To bad there isn’t a test to see if he was texting. Distracted drivers kill more people the drunk driving.