Two Killed in Police Cruiser Collision

Two Killed in Police Cruiser Collision

Two people were killed early Saturday evening in a crash involving a Los Angeles County sheriff’s patrol car in the city of Palmdale.

According to official police reports, the accident took place at around 4:40 p.m. near the intersection of 17th Street East and Avenue R, where a Ford Explorer SUV was making a turn onto Avenue R when it collided with a sheriff’s patrol car responding to an emergency situation.

Two of the four occupants inside the SUV, 31 year old Robert Delgadillo of Palmdale and 20 year old Sara Paynter of Van Nuys were ejected from the vehicle in the crash. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics. The two surviving occupants were treated on site and are expected to fully recover.

One passenger, 19 year old Jaime, told reporters after the accident that the two victims were in a relationship, and had recently shopped for an engagement ring. “I really don’t want to walk these streets no more, because of what happened. Just look at all those candles [on the memorial erected at the crash site]… It just hurts me, you know? It hurts me a lot.”

The 36 year old sheriff’s deputy inside the patrol car meanwhile suffered only minor injuries and was quickly taken away from the scene.

Following the accident, the sheriff’s department has launched a formal investigation to determine the sequence of events that led to the collision. At this time it is unclear if the two victims were wearing seat belts at the time, or if speed, drugs, or alcohol were factors.

According to local residents, the intersection is a source of constant danger. “This intersection is a very busy intersection,” says witness Marlon Mayers. “There’s a lot of accident here; this isn’t the first one. A lot of cars come through here speeding. They run up on the curb here.”

When in an automobile, wearing your seat belt is a necessity. Seat belts serve as your first line of defense in the event of an accident, preventing secondary impacts with internal vehicle components, and securing you in place to ensure maximum cushioning from air bags.

If you’ve been injured in an accident such as this, you have legal rights. With the help of an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, you can recover compensation from those at fault.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we can lead you through the legal process and help you receive everything that you need to get back on your feet. If costs are a concern, rest assured as we will not charge you for any of our legal services until your case is won. If we cannot collect on your case, then you will not owe us anything.

If you’d like more information about what we can do for you, or for a free consultation to discuss your legal options, call us today at 800-260-2577!

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