Fullerton Man Killed in Crash Near Victorville

Arthur Herpel was rushing home for Christmas, trying to drive the 700 miles from Salt Lake City to his parents’ Fullerton house without stopping for a rest.

The 22-year-old apparently fell asleep at the wheel Friday morning and died when his car veered off Interstate 15 near Victorville.

Family and friends Saturday remembered a blithe spirit who, after graduating from Sonora High School in La Habra, set out to slake his thirst for adventure.

“How does a mother describe her son?” asked Susie Herpel of Fullerton. “He was a beautiful outdoors person. He was very good at drawing. He was everything--witty, a good friend to his friends, a bon vivant.”

Into his short life Arthur Herpel packed many adventures. He fished in Alaska, skated in Paris, played baseball in Bangkok.

Herpel’s Labrador, Campdog, survived the crash, and several members of the Herpel family traveled to Victorville on Saturday to retrieve the dog from the pound.

“His father, Jay, and his brother [Jonathan] and another friend have gone to get the dog,” Susie Herpel said. “And he’s on his way home now, so we’ll have a little piece of Arthur with us.”