The Antelope Valley Times

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Driver killed in crash with big rig in Lancaster

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fatal crashLANCASTER – A Quartz Hill man died Thursday morning after his vehicle crashed into a big rig whose driver ran a stop sign at a Lancaster intersection, authorities said.

The fatal collision occurred around 8:35 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, on Avenue H at 60th Street West, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The driver of a 1990 Toyota truck was traveling north on 60th Street West, while the driver of a 2009 International tractor/trailer towing a 40 foot steel container was traveling east on Avenue H, according to the news release.

“The driver of the Toyota had the right of way in the intersection, as it is controlled by stop signs for east/west travel on Avenue H only. According to witnesses, the driver of the big rig did not stop for the stop sign and entered the intersection in path of the Toyota,” the news release states.

“The driver of the Toyota was unable to stop and struck the rear of the trailer, just ahead of the rear wheels. The force of the collision crushed the Toyota and killed the driver instantly,” the news release states.

The deceased driver was identified as 54-year-old Gary Wood of Quartz Hill, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

“The driver of the big rig showed no signs of being impaired and was cooperating with detectives,” the sheriff’s news release states.

The collision is being investigated by the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Traffic Detail.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

22 comments for "Driver killed in crash with big rig in Lancaster"

  1. It would help if all stops had larger stop signs that flash. This desert is too large and many drivers end up with “highway” or “desert” hypnosis. I agree with Roger that we should drive as if we don’t think they will stop at the stop sign.

  3. Running that stop sign, may not have been an accident, but hindering the traffic on 60th with a stop sign in the middle of nowhere, doesn’t seem to be a good solution either.
    We should drive as if we don’t think they will stop at the stop sign. The driver may not have intended to stop at it, because of the starting and stopping at a sign may decrease the number of trips they can do in a day. My own opinion is the driver did not see the Toyota and decided to blow the stop sign, for reasons stated above.

    • if we have to slow down at every intersection on the assumption that cross traffic isn’t going to stop, why not just stop at a stop sign anyway? many of the surrounding intersections out here are four way stops, but the fatalities mostly occur at the intersections where only one axis has a stop. it’s fixable. or improvable anyway

  4. My heart has been aching for woodys family and friends, the problem is not just the area/street he was killed on, the problem is that drivers of all vehicles do not pay attention to driving for one reason or another, no one gets in their vehicle saying that they are gonna kill someone today however maybe we all should get in our vehicles and think we can kill someone if we are not paying attention, maybe we start acting with maturity and respect and responsibilitie and keep our eyes on the road and stop thinking your the only one that needs to get somewhere..woody was on his way to work to support his family this is the same thing the other driver was doing but woody is no longer here able to support his family because someone was not paying attention and was not taking care to make sure he didnt kill someone that day..this is just sad all the way around, lives change in a blink of an eye, please people stop thinking your the only important one on the street, we all have to take care of eachother so we all can go home to our families. .RIP woody I’m so sorry your life was cut short.

  5. There definitely needs to be a 4 way stop sign installed. That alone would of prevented the accident even though the big rig driver ran the stop sign. I was there on the scene as a witness. Mr. Woods did not die instantly, we were all trying to tell him to hang on and that help was coming. It was so sad. May he rest in peace. I can’t believe that the big rig driver was not arrested, he is the reason he died. Also he didn’t even stop, a gentleman drove after him and made him come back. The big rig driver was a short Hispanic guy, he honestly didn’t even seem to care, he showed no empathy or compassion. He didn’t even have a operable fire extinguisher when by bystander asked him to get one. I heard that he was coming from the new solar install on 90th. Please contact the city and demand they put a stop sign! I have also heard from Facebook multiple people have died in that location. To his family, know that he wasn’t alone when he died, he had members of the community there with him telling him to hold on and slightly rubbing his back telling him help was on the way.

    • I really appreciate all the posts here regarding the accident and the driver of the semi that is COMPLETELY responsible for my boyfriend’s death. Being told he died instantly and finding out otherwise makes my heart ache even more. I am thankful for those of you that were there with him; trying to comfort him when he passed and thankful he didn’t go alone. And to the bystander that chased the trucker down and made him come back to the scene, i am forever grateful. There is a four-way stop there now. Woody drove that same route to work every morning for over 20 years and knew those roads like the back of his hand. It’s very hard for me to accept the fact that a person RESPONSIBLE for driving a truck and trailer with a cargo container of that size, negligent of stopping at a stop sign, careless to keep driving after taking the life of a man going about his daily routine, chased and forced to turn around and drive back to the scene, and can’t even produce a fire extinguisher…….. didn’t get detained, arrested, or even cited but walked away chatting on his cell phone. Did anyone bother to ask him wtf he was doing when he blew through the stop sign? Did anyone ask him wtf made him keep on driving as if nothing happened? Just another day in his life…..may God have mercy on him.

  6. I haven’t seen it being done in Lancaster yet, but Palmdale has been installing flashing lights around stop signs. It does catch your eye. Lancaster should consider this as there are many 2 way stops in the outlaying areas.

    • Lancaster does have some of these flashing stop signs,,, but they seem to be in out of the way places. I love them, and agree with you there should be more,,,, especially in the outlying areas where people get mesmerized by the desert scenery.

  7. This sounds like a dangerous intersection. Maybe the City should install a speed bump or other safety devices. If you know about unsafe conditions, you can help by reporting it to the city. Or, we at Kuzyk Law can help. Send us the information, and we will gather it together and write a cover letter to the appropriate authorities in the City or County government. We are all responsible for the safety of our kids, families and fellow neighbors. Let’s do what we can to get the information to the right ola e and make a change. The more letters the government gets, the more likely they will pay attention and try to address the issue.

    This is a terrible tragedy, and my heart goes out to Mr. Woods’ family and friends. My condolences and prayers go out to them.

    • I think a speed bump is an excellent idea and the least they can do. A few months ago I was driving north on 60 th. st. West when a tractor trailer went through the stop sign going west, without even slowing down.

  8. I had just met him as he had made a delivery to my house the day before. He was such a happy person! Loved his job, loved his boss, proud that he’d been with the same company for 20 years, and was enthusiastic regarding everything we talked about from our pets to the wild flowers he found growing in my pasture. Condolences to his family.

  9. You said a lot about the guy that died and his pickup, now tell us about the details on the big rig. What was he even doing on Ave. H, especially west of 60th. Why didn’t he stop?

  10. My young son and I were almost killed at that same spot. A cement truck blew right threw never stopping. We were blessed that day. My condolences to the family.

    • This sounds like a dangerous intersection. Maybe the City should install a speed bump or other safety devices. If you know about unsafe conditions, you can help by reporting it to the city. Or, we at Kuzyk Law can help. Send us the information, and we will gather it together and write a covervlettervto the appropriate authorities in the City or County government. We are all responsible for the safety of our kids, families and fellow neighbors. Let’s do what we can to get the information to the right ola e and make a change.

  11. There are an increasng number of big rigs traveling the backroads of the AV, and they drive like maniacs, way too fast.

  12. I drive that way when I tow my boat to Buena, that stop sign on H and G scares the crap out of me as trucks pull out in front of me all the time! Very sad for his family from this act of total disregard of the law by this selfish truck driver!

  13. We were there directly after the accident. Mr. Wood did not die instantly, several witnessed and first responders were trying to keep him awake, he passed away right before the sheriff’s arrived. I spoke to two witnesses and they said the Big Rig driver actually didn’t stop and kept going after hitting him and someone chased him down and told him he needed to come back as he might of killed someone, he then came back and parked and just walked around on his phone.

  14. All of those intersections need to be four way stops. All to many times drivers do come to a full stop at the intersection and then continue through with the assumption the cross traffic is going to stop. it is a recipe for disaster.

  15. He should be charged. The man killed is or rather was a friend of mine and my sincerest and hearrtfelt sympathy goes out to the family of Gary as well as his long time girlfriend. Rest in Peac Centre Woody.

  16. The driver should be charged! There’s so many rigs out here that act like they have the right away at all times. I myself live near there and those trucks rarely stop. I myself have almost been in many accidents because those tricks are not stopping!!!