3 of 4 identified after fatal rollover crash off Angeles Crest Highway near Wrightwood
WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (CNS) -- Authorities suspect alcohol was a factor in a crash that killed four people and injured two others when a car plunged off a cliff along the eastern edge of Angeles National Forest near Mountain High Resort.
The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. Friday on Angeles Crest 2 Highway between Big Pines and Wrightwood, which sits across the nearby San Bernardino County line, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.
According to preliminary CHP findings, none of the six people in the black 2016 Hyundai Veloster was wearing a seat belt.
The victims, all from Wrightwood, were traveling east on state Route 2 when the driver allowed the vehicle to veer to the right and leave the roadway, the CHP reported. The car overturned, traveled down an embankment and slammed into a power pole.
"Five of the six occupants were ejected from the vehicle as a result of the collision," according to a CHP news release. "Of those ejected, four sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene. The remaining two occupants were transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where they were admitted in critical condition."
Two of the four deceased victims were later identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner as 21-year-old Rebeka Citlali Cabral Gonzalez and 19-year-old Jason Potter.
Another victim was identified Saturday as 20-year-old Nevaeh Harper. She died from blunt trauma, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office.
"Preliminary investigation indicates that none of the occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision, and that alcohol is likely a contributing factor in this crash," a CHP statement said.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed it or has any information was urged to call investigating Officer F. Melgar at the CHP's Antelope Valley Area office at (661) 743-6060. After business hours, calls should be directed to the CHP's Los Angeles Communications Center at (323) 259-3200.
