Local News in Brief : Driver Thrown From Pickup Truck Dies

A Lancaster man died Saturday when he was thrown from his pickup truck on the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway in Newhall, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The victim was identified as Sergio LaGuardia, 45, a Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman said.

LaGuardia had been driving in the freeway’s fast lane at 65 to 70 m.p.h. and veered onto a dirt median strip about 3:30 a.m., CHP Officer Bruce Turner said.

The pickup continued for about a third of a mile before hitting a bridge railing at Placerita Canyon Road, Turner said. The truck bounced off the railing and turned to the right, throwing LaGuardia through the open window on the driver’s side, he said.

The pickup then struck a railing on the other side of the freeway and bounced back to the left, striking the driver, who had landed on the pavement, the officer said. Turner said LaGuardia probably died before being struck by the pickup.