The Antelope Valley Times

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Alleged DUI crash in Palmdale leaves 1 dead, 1 arrested

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The crash was reported around 8:34 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at the intersection of Avenue Q and 30th Street East, officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
PALMDALE – A 26-year-old Lancaster man was arrested on suspicion of DUI Monday night after allegedly causing a three-vehicle crash in Palmdale that killed a 53-year-old man, authorities said.

The crash was reported around 8:34 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at the intersection of Avenue Q and 30th Street East, according to a news release from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

A 26-year-old man driving a grey 2015 Ford Fusion was traveling northbound on 30th Street East, while a 53-year-old man was driving a black 1999 Toyota Corolla westbound on Avenue Q, according to the news release.

“The driver in the Ford Fusion ran the stop sign at Avenue Q and broadsided the driver of the Toyota. The driver of the Toyota died on scene as a result of the injuries from the collision,” the news release states.

The deceased driver’s name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification, but he was a 53-year-old man from Palmdale, according to the news release.

“Alcohol is a suspected factor in the collision, and the driver of the Ford Fusion was arrested for felony DUI,” the sheriff’s news release states.

A third vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, was struck as a result of the collision, which resulted in minor complaint of pain for that vehicle’s driver, according to the sheriff’s news release.

The alleged DUI driver, a Lancaster man whose name was not immediately released, sustained minor cuts in the collision and was treated at Antelope Valley Hospital, sheriff’s officials said.

The intersection of 30th Street East and Avenue Q was closed until approximately 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, while the  collision was being investigated.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Palmdale Sheriff Station’s Traffic Department at 661-272-2400.

The driver of the Toyota died on scene as a result of his injuries. [LUIS MEZA]
The Ford Fusion’s driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. [LUIS MEZA]
A Toyota Highlander was struck as a result of the collision, and its driver complained of pain. [LUIS MEZA]

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

43 comments for "Alleged DUI crash in Palmdale leaves 1 dead, 1 arrested"

  2. what i meant ti say is..he git into the car drunk what made him was his impaired brain (thats why they made illegal to drink and drive)

    • A lesson in this for everyone: the ‘decision’ to get in his car drunk and drive home was made when he was stupid drunk, and shouldn’t surprise anyone. The decision to park at the park and ride and take a bus into LA intending to get drunk was a decision made when he was sober. That’s the one that he really could have been expected to not make.

      Don’t set yourself up to fail. Give up your keys before you start drink, rather than thinking you’ll be smart enough to do it when you are drunk. If you are going to be drinking leave your car at home, not somewhere your drunken self will think that it ‘just can’t be left.’ While you are sober make it so that you can’t drink and drive, rather than pretending that when you are drunk you will know better.

  3. Cannot believe some peoples way of thinking…”maybe something made him get into the drunk?” Something did his impaired brain from drinking!! So sad praying for both familys they bith have list a family member!!

    • It doesn’t matter why he was drinking .Everyone has problems and u can’t just be selfish and think u can make it from point A to point B with out risks. He made a choice and know there is consequences.

  5. I kno the guy personally…and I can’t believe he [removed] up his life and the lives of the the person he killed. One mistake is all it took to change many people’s lives. He worked Monday-suanday 11pm to 7:30-8 am he went to collage and now it’s all taken from him. This will follow him for the rest of his life. He was a nice person and was always helping, he worked hard day and night but all it takes is one mistake to change everything. Hopefully people see that even if you work hard and do
    Things right, that it can all change in one moment..

    • True but maybe if he would of chosen not to drive drunk this might not have happened and ruined both families life right?

      • That is exactly what I meant to say. One stupid mistake. I feel terrible for the man he killed he never deserved that. I’m just in shock, I never expected that of him. Finding out at work what happened was unexpected and I’m still shocked right now…

  7. A man went through a light and hit and killed my niece, she was 7 when it happened. It tore her family apart and I mean literally. Her parents were so lost in their grieving they soon lost each other. Her older brother lost his beloved little sister and the younger ones don’t remember her. The man was in his 30’s when the accident happened. He is now in his 50’s and hasn’t gotten behind the wheel of a car since and he wasn’t drunk just in a hurry. He says he never saw her. It’s just so sad how many lives a stupid decision like this one will affect. Her parents forgave him, and I don’t know how, but had he been drunk I don’t know if they could have done that. Please please think before you get behind the wheel of a vehicle!!! Or before you let a friend get behind that wheel!!

  9. My condolences to the family I hardly drive thru that section, but yes I think they need to install a traffic stop light. Very sad on both parties because on one side there’s a mad that is gone and leaves a family the other side the driver so young and under the influence for not thinking, he already destroy not only his life but his family life’s too. (RIP) to the man that lost his life prayers for both families I’m no body to judge just pray .

  10. I have been seeing more and more red light runners. They also run the stop signs. Then add being under the influence of anything and we are going to get more innocent victims. I am wondering if these people are even licensed? Insured?

    To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.
    Theodore Roosevelt
    What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.
    Aristotle

    • My son was licensed and insured, how he got it I DO NOT KNOW.
      While I was a passenger in his car, he ran a stop sign. Granted no cars were anywhere around but I yelled loudly and asked him why he blew it.
      “You do not have to stop if there is nobody else at the intersection.”
      WHAT?!
      He got a stern talking to about laws. It appears they are not testing well enough and young people are making up their own rules of the road.

    • ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Get out of here with that. He killed an innocent man who has a family and now they have to deal with the consequences that were cause by a driver that was under the influence. I hope he gets exactly what he deserves. I witness the crash and “Tay” ran the stop sign without no hesitation of stopping and not only that he was under the influence. Why should he walk away from this with a slap on the hand?!

      • Ain’t nobody say slap on the hand give the homie 5 years and it’s sad that he killed somebody BUT IM STILL YELLIN FREE TAY UNTIL I CAN SAY IT BACKWARDS REAL [removed] ON ME [removed] WHAT YALL TALKING BOUT

    • Thank you Daisy Torres. My daughter lost her grandfather that night. Her grandmother’s best friend since they were little kids. Imagine that..having spent practicality your whole lives together and now to live the rest of it without your love. We are all in mourning. He had just had a birthday on the first of the month. I personally want to see justice..i know I’m not the only one..as for “tay” I don’t know what kind of person you are but if you’re anything like me you’re guilty conscious will get the best of you..to know the harm you have done to a family including your own is a long tortured mind and heart.

    • Yeah i bet if it was your family member like he is mine..you would think about it.. he killed a man with granchildren, 4 children and one on the way..and if that wasn’t enough he also devasted his family too,
      He made a wrong decision in driving under the influence and didn’t care if he took someone’s life, now he has! I hope he has a lifetime to think on it in Jail what he did wrong.
      Please don’t post things you have no knowledge of..

  12. Its time to put a traffic light thats the 2 nd person to die becouse of a dui not stopping

    • I’d guess the city is waiting for someone to develop the land north of Q there so they can defray the cost into developer fees. Seems like a good place for one though.

    • … traffic signals cause more problems than they solve. Idiot light mentality, for guys like Frank, the solution to every problem is, put up another traffic signal. If nitwit Frank were encharged solving the AV’s problems, we’d be saddled traffic signals spaced at 100 meter intervals. The world according to Frank, it would be faster traveling by skateboard, unicycle and pogostick, than by automobile –

      • I’m not for lights every hundred meters, but 30th is a main street, and Q is a main street.

    • That’s such a STUPID comment! Seriously! Do you really think that installing a stop sign would make someone that’s DRUNK actually stop? Prayers to the family of the man THEY killed!

      • Why not? I was thinking the same thing. It’s such a busy street, especially with growth of the city.

    • When are we going to start blaming people for their bad behavior instead of lack of a traffic device? How many drunks have you heard/seen run traffic lights? That is already a 4-way stop, which I drive through very regularly, and I’ve never seen any issues…. AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW.

    • I’m sorry for your loss may you find peace and tranquility during this time of pain and sadness

  14. OH MY GOD !!!! Everyday !! So tired of this. RIP to the deceased. Condolences to his family and friends.

  15. When will people realize that drinking or drugs do not mix with driving a car. May this person RIP, just driving and minding his own business and this idiot does this. Slow down people and stay at home if you are under the influence.

    • Amen. Although, I don’t even think they deserve to rot for long in prison. They should be put to death as they do dogs that kill. Driving while under the influence is such a selfish self centered choice. It disgusts me.

  17. That 26 year old should be held in jail, no bail. He’s ruined that 53 year old mans life. He probably had a major purpose, family, etc., DUI, he was useless, no purpose because he doesnt care about others. Selfish SOB, just like the bastard who was drugged driving and killed my grandchildrens mother. Throw the key away!

  18. May the deceased man rip. The av is always in a rush to get some where instead of rushing out why not leave 15 minutes earlier and drive safely.

      • Exactly he was arrested for dui yes I feel bad for the deceased man family but maybe something was going on that made the man leave and leading him to drive under the influence

        • Doesn’t matter what the reason was for him getting behind the wheel. There is no excuse for it. if it was an emergency he should have called someone to take him. The choice he made will ruined someones life. He should do a lot of time for what he did. People are responsible for the choice they make good or bad.

        • Juana really? like there is no other choices get out of here with that he could of called someone to take him u must be one of his kind.