3 Crash Victims Still in Hospital

Three people remained hospitalized Sunday from a head-on collision that killed six others a day earlier.

Two victims, a man and a woman, were in fair condition at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

Another woman was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she remained in critical condition Sunday, nursing supervisor Pam Shellner said. Two men injured in the Saturday crash were treated for minor injuries and released.

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. on the four-lane California 18, about a quarter of a mile west of Apple Valley Road, said Sue Carlson, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

A Ford Escort station wagon was carrying eight people and was heading east when it crossed over the center ditch and struck a Ford Thunderbird traveling west. Three passengers were in the Thunderbird, said Division Chief Art Bishop of the Apple Valley Fire Protection District.

Four in the Escort and two in the Thunderbird died at the scene. The vehicles were estimated to be traveling about the speed limit, between 50 and 60 mph, Bishop said.

Those killed in the Escort were the driver, Latryce Smith, 31, of Apple Valley; and passengers Eldera Bailey, 37, and Cassandra Taylor, 36, both of Apple Valley; and Lisa Washington, of Adelanto.

The passengers in the Thunderbird who died were identified as Jesus Coronel, 33, of Victorville, and Josue Gastelum, 23, of Adelanto.