Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Four Killed After Car Veers Off Angeles Crest Highway Near Wrightwood

Preliminary CHP findings point to seat-belt nonuse with possible alcohol involvement as investigators pursue crash reconstruction and toxicology testing.

Image
Image
Image
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows An aerial view of a heavily damaged car, possibly from a crash, in a grassy area with debris and power lines overhead, Image 2 shows Jason Potter, 19, wearing ski goggles and a black sweatshirt, Image 3 shows Navaeh Harper, a young woman with long blonde hair, smiling at the camera in a restaurant

Overview

  • A black 2016 Hyundai Veloster carrying six Wrightwood residents veered off State Route 2 and plunged down an embankment on Sept. 4 before overturning and striking a power pole.
  • According to the California Highway Patrol, five occupants were ejected, none of the six were wearing seat belts, four ejected occupants were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others were flown to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
  • The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the four victims as 21-year-old Rebeka Citlali Cabral Gonzalez, 19-year-old Jason Potter, 20-year-old Nevaeh Harper, and 19-year-old Cole Torres.
  • CHP says alcohol is believed to be a factor but toxicology and a formal crash reconstruction remain under way, so impairment findings are still provisional.
  • The Wrightwood community has organized vigils and GoFundMe pages for the families while officials note that ejection from a vehicle on steep mountain roads is strongly linked to not wearing seat belts and to severe blunt trauma.