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Driver killed in rollover crash in Lancaster

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The driver of the Mercury lost control and rolled, authorities said. [Image via BRYAN HALL]
LANCASTER – A male driver died Wednesday morning after being ejected in a single-vehicle rollover crash in Lancaster, authorities said.

The fatal collision happened around 6:18 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, on Challenger Way, north of Avenue M, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The driver was in a Mercury Mountaineer traveling southbound on Challenger Way when “the Mercury apparently left the roadway, entering the dirt shoulder,” the news release states.

“The driver of the Mercury lost control and rolled; the driver was ejected from his vehicle and was pronounced dead en route to the hospital by responding paramedics,” the news release states. The driver’s name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification.

The cause of the collision is still being investigated, and “speed may be a factor in the collision,” sheriff’s officials said in the news release.

“It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs played a role,” the news release states.

Anyone with information regarding this collision is encouraged to contact traffic investigators at the Lancaster Sheriff Station at 661-948-8466.

[BRYAN HALL]
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39 comments for "Driver killed in rollover crash in Lancaster"

  2. Steven is our son and he was a beautiful, caring, selfless, warm hearted big teddy-bear you could have ever met. He was our protector , our best friend, the funniest kid, a great dancer and a beloved friend and cousin, nephew, and grandson. Those are just a few of the descriptions that could describe him. As an athlete he was offered baseball scholarships but instead decided to sign a MLB Contract with the Florida Marlins. But those of you in this “ armpit of LA County who are without sin and have the cowardly guys , cast the first stone!Parents, Jaime and Rosie Pujol

    • My condolences to you and your family I will be praying you all of you this is Eric Sandovals sister Yvette my mom will also be reaching out

    • Rosemary MOM and DAD I send you hugs and kisses there’s no words to describe how you’re feeling this pain hurts I’m going to miss my Green Giant no matter what you guys will always have a place in my heart thank you for allowing me to be in your life until we meet again my Green Giant rosemary he’s with Grandpa and he’s with my mom and dad he’ll be well taking care of I love you Mom and Dad sincerely your second daughter Regina

  3. My nephew, Stephen was a super intelligent, good looking, highly talented, and a very giving man- 6′-4″ strong pitching arm and good bat, played baseball with some of our local colleges could have been a great pro product like his uncle David and grand father Carlos. Sang great mariachi and always a family man- family first. I’m so sorry Jaime for this loss- this was a most heavy one amongst so many tragedies that have come your way.

  4. There really isn’t anything to tell us why this happened. It’s unlikely in the first place to be drinking and driving if it happened at 6:18 am. Likely he was driving to work, and sun didn’t rise until 6:32, so not the best driving conditions. As you can see in the photos, there is basically zero paved shoulder, like on many of the roads around here, and the dirt shoulder is often soft, and where trucks drive, their trailers tires going off the edge can dig a trough at the edge.
    These roads can make it so if you hit that edge at the speed limit, you might as well be going off the edge on angeles crest if you aren’t right on what to do instantly or just are unlucky.
    Yes, if he wasn’t wearing a seat belt, that would be the major factor in him dying, but that’s all you can blame him for at this point.

  6. I’m sorry for your loss and im sorry for these hateful comments. Praying your nephew may rest in peace and bring you peace being this difficult time.

    • How do you know if the Person was a lowlife or a hard working person the way home from an overnight shift and fell asleep? Do you know the person? The lowlife is he/she who slanders others!

    • I’m so sorry for your loss. May God help you get through this tragedy and give you peace. God bless your family at this time.

    • This is to the people who are talking crap about this man. You are all IDIOTS. THIS IS WHAT I MENT. STOP BEING INSENSITIVE A MAN LOST HIS LIFE!!!
      God Bless This Man! And give the family PEACE & COMFORT✝️♥️

    • Your a piece [removed] he was the most amazing person. The world needs more Steven pujol. How dare you.

      • Seven I still can’t believe you’re gone forever my you always have a place in my heart I’m going to always remember the good times we had together and you always put a smile on my face I’ll carry are good memories together and forever until we meet again

    • Look in the mirror when you say that……making comments like that shows how low class you are and tells a lot about the way you were brought up….. bet you didn’t even know who Steven was, he was a good kid and came from a good family…. To the Pujol Family my most sincere condolences for your loss and may Steven Rest In Peace

    • If you don’t know him personally don’t talk until it’s one of your family / friend you wouldn’t want somebody talking out of their ass if someone doesn’t know them

      • Fall asleep, sun glare, momentary lapse of attention…lots of possibilities. Then it went bad from there.

        Too many people don’t train themselves for bad situations. If you have that momentary lapse and drop your right side tires off the pavement at speed the sand will grab them and pull you further to the right. It will also yank that right front tire and try to pull the steering wheel out of your hands. If you lose that grip the sharp right turn at speed will roll most cars to the left. Yanking the wheel to the left will cause the right front tire to dig into the sand, and with the right side already ‘dropped off’ the road so you are leaning that way most cars will roll to the right. A jam on the brakes with the left side on pavement and the right side on sand will also cause the car to pull hard left because the left tires will get a much better bite, and that will also roll the car to the right.

        The way to survive is to tighten your grip but keep the wheels close to straight, just a very gentle steer to the left will get you back on the road in short order. Let off the gas but don’t jam on brakes. There will be plenty of drag on the wheels in the dirt slowing you down. It’s also important to have a seatbelt on, because when the car starts to pitch and you are already challenged to control it you want to have a firm base rather than be flopping around like dice in a cup.

        When things go wrong, people panic, and when people panic they die. The key to not panicking is having thought things through ahead of time, repeatedly. No one is served well by thinking they are “too good to ever let something like that happen.” Good luck and be safe.

          • What of any use or value do YOU have to offer other than that brilliant, positive, elegant, sagacious contribution?

          • Y’know what? If ONE person reads that and someday it saves their life you telling me to shut up will have ZERO value in the great balance.

            But here’s the deal…if you ever drop a tire off the road, or have a blowout or any of the other similar situations that can arise, by all means make a point of NOT doing what I suggested. And as your car is tolling break your arm patting yourself on the back for how you got one over on me.

        • Good tips! Thanks. I used a similar system and caution when driving on snow and ice.

        • He was my son and he had a perfect driving record in 20 years of driving. This was a terrible single car accident where we lost our son only. Your soliloquy tells me you must be a retired driving school teacher.

          • Sorry for your loss. May your family recover from this. Not that you ever can ‘get over it,’ but hopefully you do find ways to go on.

            Not a driving school teacher. I actually trained nuclear reactor operators. Obviously much different machines, but the concept of frequently thinking through the actions to take in an equipment failure or other emergency is similarly useful.

  9. So brave with your “anonymous” comment I’m sure you’re an absolute Saint. Will you please show us all how to live our lives as perfectly as you do? You ignorant ass.

  10. He is my nephew who was going to work and fell asleep at the wheel at 6am no drugs or alcohol that is an insult to family and police did not even contact family shame on them Steven is now with our lord Jesus Christ please pray for my whole family we lost a beautiful person we need every prayer thank you

  13. Looks like he was running out of road. Seat belts have saved more lives then mask.

    and speeding raises your chances of being killed in an accident.

    I hate how “you people” drive