The Antelope Valley Times

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1 dead, 1 injured in Lancaster traffic crash

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A white Ford Ranger drove through a red light and struck a PT Cruiser in the intersection of 60th Street West and Avenue I, according to the preliminary investigation. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
A white Ford Ranger drove through a red light and struck a PT Cruiser in the intersection of 60th Street West and Avenue I, according to the preliminary investigation. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

LANCASTER – A collision in a Lancaster intersection Friday afternoon left one driver dead and another injured, authorities said.

The fatal collision occurred around 3:50 p.m. Friday in the intersection of 60th Street West and Avenue I, according to Lt. Carrizosa of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The driver of the PT Cruiser died at the scene. (LUIS MEZA)
The driver of the PT Cruiser died at the scene. (LUIS MEZA)

“Preliminary investigation indicates that one of the parties possibly ran the red light, colliding into the other party,” Carrizosa said.

A white Ford Ranger was traveling northbound on 60th Street West when its driver apparently ran the red light and crashed into a PT Cruiser, according to Carrizosa.

The driver of the PT Cruiser was pronounced dead at the scene, while the Ford Ranger’s driver was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital in serious condition, according to deputies at the scene.

The incident is still under investigation and no one has yet been arrested in connection with the collision, Carrizosa said.

The names of both parties have not yet been released.

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UPDATED 9/28/14: The deceased has been identified as 62-year-old David Michael Rollins of Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Filed Under: Lancaster

34 comments for "1 dead, 1 injured in Lancaster traffic crash"

  1. I lost my best friend 6 months ago. It seems like one long bad dream. I go to bed thinking about him and when I awake it is the first thought that comes to mind. Everyday tears drop off my face from the pain. I don’t like that someone took his life, we all feel robbed. On 9/26/2014 around 3:50 in the afternoon a car accident took place in the city of Lancaster, CA that changed lives. I feel sorry for everybody involved. I know that life is not fair but, GOD is good. Here is some more truth, Dad I will always LOVE YOU, I am your son.

  2. There still is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you pops. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I wish I could have been there with you. I love you; this hurts me so bad. You meant so much to me, I hope you knew that. You were such a good person. May you rest in peace dad.

  3. To whom it may concern, I would like to emphasize once more about being aware of the fact that it is so detrimental not to use all one’s mental faculties. People please for yourself, your children and all loved ones pleases, obey the laws of the road. Please put the phone down and refrain from any distractions. And never use drugs or alcohol and then drive. I know we all know these things but if this knowledge can be used by my reminder for just one person, it is well wroth it to me and my time by writing this. So pass it on!!! LOVE YOU DAD and I’ll see you soon.

  5. If the person who caused this death happens to be an employee of the state prison, I sincerely hope that (If found at fault) they are not given special consideration as in soooo many past vehicle fatalities involving a state trooper, deputy or some well-to-do prosecutor or well connected politician and or connected bureaucrat as some, but not all, seem to receive protection!! It happens very little as of late, however I’ve heard of many stories where this has happen.
    My sympathy for the victim’s family and for the person responsible for the death.

  6. My heart breaks for Dave’s family….He was a wonderful friend.I am so happy that I visited Dave in April of 2013,I am so sorry Johnny,Amber,Mike, he spoke of His love for all of You & His Grandchildren.He will be forever missed & forever loved.My thoughts & prayers are with You.I left My number on the answering machine if You would like to call…God Bless & Keep You in the painful days ahead.

    • Thank you Dawn for your kind words. Pop’s appreciated you coming out and visiting him. He told us you guys had a good time and we knew you were his friend. Johnny, Mike, and I want to thank you again for caring about our father. You’ll be getting a call from us soon. This is a sad and horrible event that we are sorry this had happened.

  7. Even tho your pysical body is gone you will always be in my heart. You will always be my one true and best friend. I love you Dave. I know you understand my tears

    • Hey Jesse, thanks again for your help and caring so much for my DAD. I knew about you guys being best of friends and I also know that this hurt you real bad. My DAD would tell me just about every time that you two had talked on the phone. He would also brag about how long you guys were friends saying to me “You don’t have friends that you have known for this long of a time.” What my DAD was saying to me was you have no real friends Johnny. Jesse, you meant a lot to my father and that means a lot to me. Thank You!!!

  8. Dear loved ones of David, my husband was picking up or Son from high school that day. They were there with your father when he passed. I want you to know they tried to help him and they spoke to him. He was not alone. His family had been in our prayers.
    We are so sorry for your loss.

    • To Yvette, your husband and son. This is Johnny, David’s son. I want to tell you what this means to us all. Compassion for one another is becoming very rare. Hearing that these two men, strangers to my father went for his aid; I can’t tell you in a few words how proud we are of them. What you guys did that day was of Good. The fact that my dad died such a violent death but, love was still present is truly a beautiful thing. I ask that your family love one another, the day and tomorrow is not promised.
      With Love we thank you for the wonderful deed you two took part in. If given a chance I will return this favor.
      May God bless us all. -JOHNNY-

  9. I would like to start off by sending my sympathies to all of those involved and affected by this horrible preventable accident. May you all find some peace so that you can go on and be there for one another. I saw the scene shortly after it happened but chose not to be a lookie loo (sp?). I have to admit though that I rolled down my window to hear what happened. The reason for the accident gave me chills. I came back much later (as a sign of respect for those involved) that evening well after the scene was clear of people and emergency vehicles, there were no flashing lights, no ambulances, no firetrucks…nothing except for a few police cars and a few police officers still redirecting traffic as they finished up the last bit of their investigation. I walked across the street and as I did so a man who was not in police uniform asked me what I was doing. I told him I wanted to get pictures for my son (I didn’t get to elaborate). He didn’t stop me at that point. I began taking some pictures and video of the scene. Almost immediately after that, the same man approached me, I assume he became annoyed by my presence, and told me to leave. Mind you I was all the way across the street from the wrecked vehicles. I was nowhere near the vehicles whatsoever. I was not in anyone’s way I was not making any rude gestures or vocalizing anything at all. I said ok to the man but asked why I needed to leave. His exact answer was “because I said so”. I told him that I just wanted to know what I did wrong and then he told two cops to get me out of there. When I asked them what I was doing wrong they said I was within the boundaries of a crime scene. Before everyone jumps my case and says I was just being a nosey non compliant bitch let me tell you why I was there taking pictures and video. I have 3 sons. One of which just got his drivers license. And I wanted to show him REAL LIFE proof of what happens when traffic laws are not obeyed. Kids see pictures of smashed cars and sad stories on the Internet and they always think it will never happen to them but there’s something about seeing it in real life that seems to get to them. This was my ONLY purpose for being there that day and taking pictures and video of such a tragedy…to teach my son a valuable lesson that may one day save his or someone else’s life. But I never got the chance to elaborate that to the man in the plain clothes (I found out later he was the investigator). I never was given the chance to tell him my purpose. That I wasn’t just some a**hole enjoying taking pix of someone else’s tragedy to show all my friends on Facebook or something. I’m just a regular single mom raising 3 boys and I want my newly licensed son to understand the value of life and the importance of driving cautiously and distraction free. As horrible as it sounds…sometimes tragedy is the only way for others to learn. I hope the gentle man who unfortunately perished will forgive my presence knowing my purpose behind it.

    • I find this excuse hard to believe. I had 3 children as well who learned to drive and I did not go out of my way to get video or pictures of someone’s accident. The pictures the paper and AV Times post are graphic enough for your children to learn that driving is a dangerous and full time job. They were right to make you leave. If it had been my family member and you showed up with your stupid phone or whatever you used to record the accident, I would have done more than tell you to leave. In the future, show some respect, class, and dignity to those who have lost their loved one. Next, you will be going to the morgue to take pics of accident victims. Believe me, your sons will either drive defensively or they won’t. Stay home

    • So you didn’t want to be a lookie loo so you go back to take pictures and video?? Not only does that sound like you have way too much time on your hands but I would find that disrespectful if I was a family member of the deceased. That is beyond nosy. Stick to the internet pictures or tell him what you saw first hand.

  10. Please don’t jump to conclusions. It may be there was a medical issue involved. So very sorry for the loss of a treasued husband, father, Grandpa and friend. My condolences to the family.

  12. I am the son of David, the man who was killed. People please drive safely and not careless because it is not just your life but all the other people on the road as well. It is to easy to ruin an entire family over not stopping or not paying attention to the light signals. My father was just driving home and now he is gone. It is one thing to read or hear about a fatal car accident but when it is a dearly LOVED ONE you lose over something so preventable it is very heartbreaking. Our whole family is in a state of shock due to this tragedy. ”POPS” as we called him was the Greatest Grandfather a son could ask for, lets not forget dad as well. I miss him beyond words!!! So please everyone think about your actions because it can cause a lifetime of pain for someone. I LOVE YOU DAD with all my all that is me. I’ll see you in heaven.

    • I visited the crash site today and gave my father some flowers. The car was broken into so many tiny pieces, just as my heart is. Although he was my father-in-law he saw me as his own daughter. We shared a close relationship that will stay with me forever. He cared for me so much and also for my two children who were his only grandchildren he had. They meant everything to him. His whole life revolved around them. He was on his way home expecting to meet us there when his life was unexpectedly cut short from this horrible auto accident. I have not broken the news to them yet. It will shatter my children to know that their Granddad has passed away and in such an awful way. Their Granddad meant so much too them, he was like a 2nd dad to them in so many ways. I don’t know how to tell my 3 and 6 year old about the loss of their Granddad. I’m sad that this had to happen.

  14. My dad was almost home, he lived in Quartz Hill and drove that route all the time. But that day my father didn’t make it home, instead he met with the lord. It is true people do run these stop lights/signs all the time. Law enforcement should look into finding ways to prevent these tragic events.

  15. Folks blow through this light hourly, yet the LASD are on K street as they can generate more revenue there.

  16. Bob this is by the prison it is not a stop sign its an actual stoplight. We saw the lighys flashing red on our way home and we saw the emergency lights. They didn’t clear the scene t later that night. We were on ave K and 60th W. This was sad we didn’t lnow what happened until now

  17. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families involved…please remember that our rural roads don’t always have 4 way stop intersections…Parents please teach your kids to slow down before entering any intersection…too many careless and reckless drivers …never assume they will do the right thing.

    • Thank you for your effort in trying to make others aware of this problem of reckless driving, I’m the daughter of the man who was killed. It’s good to see that others are aware of this and care.

      • Amber & Johnny, if you see this message, please give me a call — Robert Sheahen, (818) 292-1984. Thanks. Dave was my friend for 40 years. We even had the same birthday in February.

        • And just how coincidental is it that Robert Sheahen is an attorney? Sorry, just my suspicious mind.

  20. Way too many cars run the stops across I, J, and Ave D. They are often usually the ones causing the fatalities or accidents, CHP needs to crack down on these stop runners across the west side.

    • It happens here in Palmdale too, Bob. Twice in one day, I almost got hit at the same intersection making a left hand turn. I had the green arrow both times and the people with the red light wanting to make a right did not even slow down at the intersection. They had the nerve to flip me the bird for honking at them. I don’t see what anyone’s rush is to not make a five second stop. Too many fatalities the last few months due to negligent drivers. Prayers ro the deceased driver’s family.