2 Killed When Truck Hits Tree
A pickup truck traveling at nearly twice the speed limit slammed into a tree on Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley early Friday, killing the driver and a passenger.
Coroner’s officials identified the victims as Shane Connaughton, 21, and Kevin Baustert, 20, both of West Hills.
Simi Valley Police Sgt. Bob Gardner said Connaughton was driving a 1999 Dodge pickup truck eastbound on Los Angeles Avenue, east of Hubbard Street, when the vehicle hit a large tree in a center divider at 2:23 a.m.
Investigators said the victims had been playing pool at a billiard hall before the accident but were unable to determine whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Baustert was wearing a seat belt but Connaughton was not, officials said.
Gardner said the truck was traveling 75 to 85 mph. The speed limit for that portion of Los Angeles Avenue is 40 mph, Gardner said.
“They were going down the road at a high speed and lost control, and it hit the divider, and hit the tree . . .,” Gardner said.
Witnesses said the impact nearly split the truck in two pieces.
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