Carbon Canyon Crash Kills Both Drivers

A 27-year-old Chino Hills woman and a man who may have been a Pennsylvania tourist were killed Thursday when their cars collided on two-lane Carbon Canyon Road, authorities said.

Coroner’s officials did not release the names of the victims Thursday pending notification of relatives.

The crash occurred at 1 p.m. when the driver of a 1998 Chevrolet Camaro lost control near the entrance to Carbon Canyon Regional Park, drifting first onto the right shoulder and then sliding sideways into the eastbound lane. She was struck by a 1990 Pontiac, California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lundquist said.

Both cars were traveling about 50 to 55 m.p.h. when they collided, and the force of the impact ignited a small fire in the Camaro, Lundquist said.

The drivers were likely killed on impact, Lundquist said, and both may have been distracted when the accident occurred.

“Unfortunately, most two-lane roadways are very prone to that situation,” he said. “It looked like there was a strong possibility that the [female] driver may have been looking through a Velcro key purse. There were absolutely no skid marks from the other vehicle. He was from Pennsylvania and there was an open Thomas Guide [map book] on the front seat.”

Brea police assisted at the accident, which closed Carbon Canyon Road in both directions for 2 1/2 hours.