The off-duty officer’s SUV apparently hit a stalled minivan, which the 18-year-old was standing in front of. The CHP says the SUV then rolled on top of its ejected driver, killing him.
By Francisco Vara-Orta
The Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — A sport utility vehicle rammed into a stalled minivan on the 60 Freeway in Hacienda Heights early this morning and overturned, killing an off-duty police officer and a young man, authorities said.
The accident on the eastbound side of the freeway, just west of South Hacienda Boulevard, was reported about 12:40 a.m., said Joe Iziz, a California Highway Patrol spokesman.
An 18-year-old man from Ontario and 55-year-old man from Montclair died at the scene, CHP Officer R. Geiss said.
The preliminary investigation showed that a 15-year-old had been driving the van when it was disabled in a single-vehicle accident, Geiss said. All five people in the van had gotten out and walked near the center divider when a red Chevy Blazer heading east crashed into it, he said.
The crash caused the van to fatally hit the 18-year-old man, who had walked in front of the vehicle. He was thrown into the westbound lanes of the freeway, Geiss said.
The SUV overturned, ejecting its 55-year-old driver. The SUV then landed on the driver and killed him, Geiss said.
The L.A. County Police said in a statement today that Lt. Gilbert L. Valderrama, a 19-year veteran of the department, was on his way home from work when his vehicle was hit.
L.A. County Police provides security for various parks and agencies, making it the fourth-largest law enforcement agency in the county with 491 sworn officers.
The accident prompted the closure of several eastbound and westbound lanes on the 60, but all lanes were cleared by 4:40 a.m., Iziz said.
Copyright 2008 The Los Angeles Times