Head-On Crash on Freeway Kills 1, Injures 2

A pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic on the Golden State Freeway near Castaic early Friday and collided with a tanker truck, killing one man and injuring two other people, authorities said.

The driver of the pickup, a 36-year-old Lancaster man, was flown to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia. The man, whose name was not released, died about an hour later, said Rose Morelli, a hospital spokeswoman.

The accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the freeway just north of Templin Highway, said Officer Diane Lowery of the California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the tanker truck, 32-year-old Wilton Broome of Bakersfield and another driver, 27-year-old Teresa Iribarren of Lebec, were also taken to Henry Mayo Newhall.

Broome, who suffered a broken leg, was listed in fair condition, Morelli said. Iribarren was treated for minor neck strain and released, she said.

The driver of the pickup truck was traveling south on the freeway when he struck the rear of Iribarren’s car, lost control, crossed over the center divider and collided with the tanker truck, Lowery said.

The truck, which was carrying 8,100 gallons of gasoline, did not explode, she said.

Firefighters had to use special rescue tools to cut the top off the pickup truck and lift the driver from the mangled vehicle, said Capt. Duane Lewis of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Two of the four northbound lanes of the freeway were closed for several hours, snarling morning traffic, while the wreckage was removed, authorities said.