2 killed when LA cruiser crashes into car, officer injured

Source: Los Angeles Times

Two people were killed Saturday when the SUV they were riding in was struck by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol car in Palmdale, Calif.

Sara Paynter, 20, of Van Nuys and Robert Delgadillo, 31, of Palmdale were the two victims in the accident according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. The driver of the SUV sustained minor injuries, and the sheriff’s deputy was taken to the hospital and suffered moderate injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at the corner of Avenue R and 17th Street about 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The victims’ 1994 Ford Explorer was traveling eastbound on Avenue R and the sheriff’s patrol car was heading northbound on 17th Street, authorities said

“For unknown reasons” the SUV entered the intersection “directly in front of” the patrol car, according to a statement from the California Highway Patrol. The patrol car “hit the SUV and caused it to spin out, ejecting the two passengers into the roadway, the statement said.

According to Lt. Ken Wright of the sheriff’s Palmdale station, the speed of the vehicles involved was not immediately known, but did say the deputy was responding to a nearby call.

Multiple media outlets have reported that the deputy’s vehicle did not have its lights and sirens on at the time of the crash, but Wright said he was unfamiliar with the investigation and not able to comment about that.

Investigators told reporters at the scene that they have conflicting witness statements on whether the SUV had stopped at a stop sign and fast the deputy was going at the time of the incident.

The accident is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, Wright said.

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Source: Los Angeles Times