A horrific crash in Lancaster has left four people and two dogs dead on Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of West Avenue H and 30th Street West.
KTLA 5 in Los Angeles reports that another driver witnessed the crash that happened just after noon.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that the driver of a Toyota Avalon traveling westbound on West Avenue H blew through a red light and slammed into a Volkswagen Jetta that had been traveling northbound on 30th Street West.
The force of impact in the collision was so powerful that it spun the Volkswagen around a nearby utility pole and ejecting all three adults inside the vehicle to be thrown from the car.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. David Jennings told KTLA reporters that it appears that none of the people inside the Jetta had been wearing their seatbelts at the time. “…and that probably contributed to their coming out of the vehicle.”
Two of the victims who had been inside the Volkswagen were pronounced dead at the scene while a third female victim was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. She later died at the hospital as the result of injuries suffered in the crash.
Also traveling inside the Jetta with the three adults were two dogs that were also killed in the crash.
The victims of the fatal crash ranged in age from 30 to 45. Authorities have not yet released their names pending notification of family members.
The driver of the Toyota was also pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators found no indication of impairment for anyone in either vehicle.
“There’s no factors that we can identify in the crash that would cause this person to run that red light, Sgt. Jennings said. “There’s no braking before impact, so it’s hard to put a reason as to why this person ran the red light.”
California Vehicle Code 21453 outlines the rules for traffic signals at intersections to control vehicle flow. Failing to follow this law can result in serious or even fatal collisions. An attorney can provide more information about offenses relating to traffic devices.
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