Woman Dies in 2-Car Crash Near Palmdale

A Hawthorne woman was killed just outside Palmdale when her car veered across the median of the Antelope Valley Freeway and was struck by an oncoming car carrying a mother and her two children, the California Highway Patrol said Friday.

Susie E. Carper, 43, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene early Thursday, CHP Officer Scott McKnight said. The occupants of the other car escaped serious injury because the mother wore a seat belt and her daughters were in back-seat child restraints, he said.

Nancy E. Jones, 30, of Palmdale suffered facial cuts and was taken by ambulance to Palmdale Hospital Medical Center, along with daughters Jillian, 18 months, and Jaycie, 4 months, McKnight said. All three were expected to be treated and released, the officer said.

Investigators had discovered no cause for the 7:45 a.m. crash, which occurred in unincorporated county territory south of Palmdale.

Carper was headed north on the freeway toward Palmdale when her car drifted across the freeway’s gravel median area and was struck on the driver’s side by Jones’ vehicle, McKnight said. Jones saw the oncoming car and braked but could not avoid the collision, he said.