Man Hurt After His SUV Hits Firetruck

A man was critically injured Saturday in Palmdale when he lost control of his sport utility vehicle and hit a passing Los Angeles County fire paramedic truck, authorities said.

Warren White, 33, of Palmdale was driving north on 90th Street East when he swerved onto the right shoulder to let the emergency vehicle pass, Inspector Henry Rodriguez of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

White lost control on the loose sand and veered his vehicle back onto the road, hitting the rear of the paramedic truck, Rodriguez said. The impact caused the SUV to flip, ejecting White.

White was airlifted to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he underwent surgery for major head and chest injuries, officials said.

The accident occurred about 11:25 a.m. just south of Avenue P, California Highway Patrol Officer Rosa Ray said.

The firetruck, carrying two paramedics, was responding to an emergency medical call from Lake Los Angeles with sirens and flashing lights.

The paramedics--driver Don C. Herold and Pat Walsh--stabilized White before he was airlifted to the hospital, Ray said.

White’s sons, 9-year-old Joshua and 5-year-old Matthew, were riding together in the front passenger seat without seat belts, Ray said. Both suffered minor scrapes and cuts. After the crash, dispatchers sent another squad to handle the original medical call, Rodriguez said.

According to the CHP’s accident report, the firetruck was traveling about 40 to 45 mph.

The report said White was “possibly surprised” by the emergency vehicle. Ray said White “overreacted and he swerved to the right and then to the left, instead of slowing down and pulling over.”

The crash is under investigation by the CHP.

Lt. Edward Dvorak of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Palmdale station said vehicles often skid or become stuck along the sandy shoulders of the high desert. Sheriff’s deputies use four-wheel-drive vehicles in that area to handle the terrain, he said.