2 Die in Separate Traffic Accidents

Two people were killed Sunday in separate traffic accidents in the Antelope Valley, authorities said.

A Palmdale woman was killed and three children were hurt when she ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle about 12:30 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.

The woman, whose name was not released, was driving north on 55th Street East. Witnesses told deputies that the woman did not stop at the stop sign at Avenue R-8, and plowed into an eastbound vehicle driven by Charles Rauchfuss, 33, of Palmdale.

A 2-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy in the woman’s car were taken by helicopter to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, where both were listed in critical condition Sunday night. The girl suffered head trauma and the boy a broken leg and head trauma.

A 6-year-old boy with less severe injuries was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital. His condition was not available Sunday night.

Rauchfuss, his wife and two children were treated at the scene for minor injuries, deputies said.

In a separate accident, one man was killed in a head-on crash at 7:44 p.m. Sunday at Sierra Highway and Agua Dulce Canyon Road, the California Highway Patrol said.