The Antelope Valley Times

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Retired fire captain killed in solo crash

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The car overturned and ended up on its roof in a dirt field off West Avenue S, west of Tovey Avenue, according to the CHP. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
PALMDALE – A man who died in a solo car crash near Palmdale Tuesday was a retired Los Angeles County Fire Department captain, authorities said.

John Bailey, 67, of Palmdale died at a hospital following the crash, which occurred around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, on West Avenue S, west of Tovey Avenue.

Bailey was driving a 2005 Ford Mustang east on Avenue S when “for unknown reasons, the Ford traveled off the south roadway edge and entered the dirt field south of the roadway,” according to a California Highway Patrol report.

The car overturned and ended up on its roof, the CHP reported. Bailey was the only occupant of the Mustang.

Bailey retired in 2009 after a career of more than 30 years. His son, county fire Capt. Don Bailey, is assigned to Fire Station 20, said Capt. Keith Mora, a department spokesman.

“Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the death of retired fire Capt. John Bailey,” Mora said. “The fire department will always remember Capt. Bailey’s exceptional career. His legacy and reputation will live forever. The Los Angeles County Fire Department sends its sincere condolences to all of Capt. Bailey’s family,” Mora added.

Funeral services are pending.

Anyone with information on the crash is encouraged to contact the CHP Antelope Valley Area office at (661) 948-8541.

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Filed Under: Palmdale

25 comments for "Retired fire captain killed in solo crash"

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  3. First, they have to make sure it was an accident. They have to check the conditions of the vehicle, then they have to question the family about his state of mind, they have to check road conditions . If everything checks out fine, they have to classify it as suspicious circumstances. Calling something an accident and there no evidence of an accident is irresponsible. In Los Angeles three Pakistani men tried to run me over to make it look like an accident and I never associated with Pakistani people. If I would have been run over, Im positive it would have been classified an accident and it wouldn’t have been. I’m just lucky that I’m still here.

    • David, the sheriff’s routinely put stuff like “appears to be a factor” in the first press release…especially if the driver is someone they don’t like and they might benefit from a little poison in the jury pool down the line.

      • Pull your head out…..this is a CHP crash, not Sheriff. There was not a Sheriff’s press release done here. I suppose any chance you have to speak badly of the Sheriff’s Department you will jump on it. Sorry to say, the Sheriff’s Department had nothing to do with a crash in CHP’s area, except to maybe handle some traffic control.

        Timmy, obviously speed was an issue, but if they speculated before crunching the numbers, you would criticize them. If they don’t put out speed in an initial press release, you would criticize them. Oh wait, that is all you know how to do. I wish someday you lived under a microscope that you seem to examine all law enforcement through. I bet you could not go through a day like the shining diamond you pretend to be when the examination was done.

        • Cops are cops…they are all alike to me. Thanks for the correction.

          I am curious though…how is Avenue S a “CHP crash, not sheriff”? I thought the CHP handled state highways.

          • CHP handles any traffic related incident in an area that is not within the City limits. That is a County pocket. Same with Avenue S at Sierra. South side is CHP, north side is Sheriff….

            Sheriff handles all other criminal matters in the County areas, and criminal and traffic issues in the cities contracted with.

          • Ah. Good to know. It never occurred to me that the county sheriff didn’t handle traffic in the county.

  4. With. All the respect that. Captain john DESERVES..My most condolences to. His. FAMILY. He was my First neighbor to come to. Welcome me ,, He was a VERY. GOOD NEIGHBOR. All I Have to. Say. IS A BIG LOST TO OUR COMMUNITY..
    DIOS LO TENGA. EN. EL. CIELO…..PAUL LEON

  5. John Caroll Bailey was a former infantry Marine. He served with honor in Vietnam 1969.
    From 28 February to 3 March 1969, L3/4 was attack by the North Vietnamese Army near Khe Sahn, DMZ.
    L3/4 Marines killed over 45 Communist but we lost 11 Marines in hand to hand combat.
    I am certain John is in heaven with his Band of Brothers.
    RIP
    Semper Fi
    Davis Christian Yorck
    LtCol USMC Ret
    President http://www.CALMOAA.org

  6. It is a sad day for all of us who worked with Captain Bailey or for those who knew him. He was a no nonsense Captain who expected the best from
    his crew. He was also a funny person at times during exercise or just having a cup of coffee in the kitchen. Instead of speculating about the cause of his accident, let’s just say a prayer for his family.

    • I don’t think that anyone here is trying to say that he was anything but a complete upstanding citizen, devoted husband and father, and in general, an awesome all around individual… as he obviously was. But I agree that it’s crazy that the reporting of this tragedy was not done with the impartiality that we like to see from the press. Just because he may have been driving a little fast, or maybe had become distracted, says nothing about his character … I mean I fall victim to those types of situations occasionally, and I am one hell of a person! (Ha!) all I’m saying is don’t take offense to it being brought up that this was reported in a format that we are not used to, therefor seeing that is odd. It’s speaks more for the reporter than the victim. My condolences to the friends and family. You will all be in my prayers during this incredibly difficult time. /END RANT

      • This wasn’t the work of a reporter…this was the press release from the sheriff’s department. It’s the ‘brotherhood of the badge.’ Any driver without a badge the report would have certainly said “excessive speed appears to be a factor” since just based on how far off the road the car ended up that’s pretty obvious. But around here expecting cops to not cover for “their own” is a pipe dream.

        Anyway, excessive speed or not he didn’t hurt anyone else, so certainly no reason to speak ill of the dead…condolences to his family.

  7. In reporting accidents they usually mention that ‘drug and alcohol were not involved’ if they weren’t involved. There is no mention here, one way or another.

  8. Hey you guys why would you say anything negative regarding this horrible tragedy. Keep your negative comments to yourself !!!!
    We Loved John very much !!!!

  9. Most everyone driving out ave S to the Anna Verde track drives like a a-hole.

    Amazing how an entire neighborhood can go down hill so fast

  10. Captain Bailey was a great great man with a great legacy left with the department in John. I heard about the accident we also saw the escort and helicopter flyover on the 14 freeway at Golden Valley.

    Such a shame and he will be missed.

    • Sorry for your loss, Station 20 and the entire LAFD. Deepest sympathies.

  11. … corporate irresponsibility, no automotive engineer worth his salt would ever spec a 17″ wheel, for that car. Every 1 inch increment in wheel diameter increases likelihood of a rollover, by a factor of ten. Optimal wheel diameter of Ford’s Mustang, 14 inche, likelihood of its rollover with a 17″ wheel diameter increased, by a factor of ten, three times. Had that old guy’s Mustang been properly equipped a 15″ wheel, that car never would have flipped. He would have otherwise walked away, alive and well –

    • Did you notice how far from the road he ended up? Can’t say for sure from one picture, but I wouldn’t rule out excessive speed being more of a factor than rim diameter…especially since lower profile tires probably offset the increased diameter of the rim and kept actual wheel diameter pretty much unchanged. You gotta work to roll a Mustang.

      • Everyone here will tell you, we’ve seen this mustang speeding back and fourth from Anaverde

      • It is a moot point on your differences!This all about our condolences to the Bailey family.John RIP

    • Are you taking into account the outer diameter of the tire on that wheel or just using the wheel itself as a reference?

  12. Omg! I am so sorry & shocked. I was just going to call John & Diane to see if I could bring my daughter over for a visit. John & my Johnny ( her father ) were in Viet Nam together. Very sad . Very upsetting.
    Monique & Jordan DILE