Girl, 5, Dies After Collision

A 5-year-old girl died Tuesday after she was trapped in her mother’s car when it overturned after colliding with a car driven by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy, authorities said.

Carmen Mazariegos, 30, of Palmdale was driving south on 45th Street East near Avenue R with her three daughters, ages 3 to 5, at about 5:20 p.m. when her car collided with another driven by Joseph Skophammer, a deputy who works out of the Santa Clarita Station, said Lt. Sandra Crawford of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Skophammer was accompanied by his 6-year-old daughter, Crawford said.

Mazariegos’ car overturned, trapping Amy Mazariegos, 5, inside and ejecting the mother and her two youngest daughters, Leslie, 4, and Martha, 3, said Capt. Doug Moe of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Amy died at Desert Palms Hospital from massive injuries. Her mother was in serious condition at Antelope Valley Hospital with a broken pelvis, Crawford said. It was unknown whether they were wearing seat belts, Crawford added.

The off-duty deputy and his daughter, Karina Skophammer, were both wearing seat bets and received only minor injuries, Crawford said.