Fatal collision on Angeles Crest Highway ruled an accident

A man who died in a collision on Angeles Crest Highway Thursday night just above La Cañada Flintridge has been identified as 22-year-old Genaro Pliego of Pasadena.

Lt. Daniel Stanley, watch commander for the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, said a call came in shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday reporting a collision between two vehicles near Mile Marker 27.28, near the Angeles Crest Forest Station.

Pliego was driving a 1998 Honda Civic southbound through a turn when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the opposing lane of traffic and drove head-on into a 2016 Ford F-550 traveling northbound, according to a report issued Friday by the California Highway Patrol.

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He was treated on scene, but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m., according to Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The cause of death was traumatic injury, and the incident was ruled an accident, Winter added.

The driver of the other vehicle, described by the CHP as a 59-year-old Lancaster man, was taken to Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

At the scene of the accident Thursday night, a young man who had been at a nearby vista point with some friends said they heard the sound of the collision and called 9-1-1. Sheriff’s deputies, California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Fire Department responders arrived on scene, issuing a Sig Alert at 9:20 p.m.

Angeles Crest Highway was blocked to oncoming traffic in both directions until 12:30 a.m., CHP reported.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been started by Pliego’s younger sister to help raise money to cover the cost of funeral services.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine