New Mexico mother and children sought in Amber Alert found safe in Lancaster; car abandoned in La Verne

A mother and her three sons who disappeared from New Mexico, triggering a multi-state Amber Alert, were found safe in the Lancaster area Sunday night, hours after the car the were driving in was found abandoned in La Verne, authorities said.
The three boys, ages 6, 8 and 9, were believed to have been taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico during the early morning hours and driven to California by their 28-year-old mother, Laria Walker-Anderson, according to an Amber Alert issued by the California Highway Patrol.
They were last seen in a silver, 2009 Kia Spectra, according to the CHP.
According to CHP logs, authorities learned of an electronic “ping” indicating the car had been on the 210 Freeway near Foothill Boulevard, just east of the 57 Freeway, in La Verne at 2:28 p.m.
A witness called police shortly after 5 p.m. to report seeing the car listed in the Amber Alert parked at Foothill Boulevard and Ramona Avenue with no one inside, La Verne police said in a written statement.
Officers responded and confirmed the car was the one being sought. The woman and children were no where to be found.
The family turned up safe in the Lancaster area shortly before 10 p.m., according to La Verne police Lt. Monica Schusse. Further details were not immediately available.
Walker-Anderson was not formally accused of any crime on Sunday afternoon, Bernalillo County sheriff’s officials said during a news conference broadcast on the department’s Facebook page. She has legal custody of the children, and no arrest warrant has been issued.
But the woman had made threats of possible self harm, or harm against her children, to the children’s father via a phone conversation, and there was believed to be a .45-caliber handgun in the car she had been driving, according to deputies. Due to the circumstances, officials said they wanted to make sure both the children and their mother were OK.

PHOTOS courtesy of the CHP

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Man killed in Mount Baldy Road crash


ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST >> A man was found dead inside his SUV following solo-vehicle crash along a winding mountain road in the Angeles National Forest just south of Mount Baldy, authorities said Saturday.
Ryan David Hines, 27, of Mount Baldy died in the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. Larry Smith said. CHP records listed Hines a resident of Fountain Hills, Arizona.
The wreckage was discovered Friday, though it was not clear what time, or even what day, the crash took place, Officer T. Brazier of the California Highway Patrol said in a written statement.
Paramedics pronounced the driver dead at 3:10 p.m., shortly after the crash scene was discovered, Smith said.
Hines was driving a 1988 Ford Bronco south on Mount Baldy Road near mile marker 2.16, just south of Glendora Ridge Road, at an unknown speed prior to the crash, according to Brazier.
“For reasons unknown, the driver allowed the vehicle to veer to the east and collide with a dirt and rock raised berm,” the officer said. “The vehicle became airborne and subsequently collided with the downhill embankment.”
The SUV came to a rest upside down on an adjacent access road, Brazier said.
The crash remains under investigation by the CHP’s Baldwin Park-area office. Anyone with information can reach the office during normal business hours at 626-338-1164.

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CHP hosts teen driver safety class in Baldwin Park

The California Highway Patrol is hosting another session of it’s popular “Start Smart” teen driving class this Friday in Baldwin Park.
The free, two-hour class — designed for young drivers and soon-to-be drivers between 15 and 19, as well as their guardians — will be held at 6:15 p.m. Friday at the CHP’s Baldwin Park-area office, 14039 Francisquito Ave. in Baldwin Park, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
Officers will discuss collision avoidance and other aspects of safe driving.
Videos depicting the tragic consequences of bad decision behind the wheel will be shown. A parent or guardian must attend with each student.
Spaces often fill quickly, and those interested are urged to reserve a spot early.
For more information, or to reserve a space in the class, email Officer Jimenez at rjimenez@chp.ca.gov or call 626-338-1164.

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Covina man killed in Rowland Heights motorcycle crash


A Covina man died in a Saturday night motorcycle crash on Colima Road in Rowland Heights, authorities said.
The identity of the motorcyclist, described by the California Highway Patrol as a 33-year-old Covina man, was not yet released by coroner’s officials on Sunday.
The solo-vehicle crash took place about 10:40 p.m. on Colima Road, just west of Fairway Drive, Officer R. Finfrock of the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Fe Springs-area office said in a written statement.
He said the man was riding a 2009 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe east on Colima, “at a high rate of speed,” when the motorcycle struck the center median.
“The collision with the center median caused (the rider) to be ejected form the motorcycle and the motorcycle to overturn,” according to Finfrock. “At this time, no other vehicles have been determined to have been involved in this traffic collision.”
Paramedics took the injured motorcyclist to Pomona Valley Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries at 1:17 a.m. Sunday, Finfrock said.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information can reach the CHP’s Santa Fe Springs-area office at 562-868-0503.

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Man killed, 4 hurt in 6-vehicle wreck on 605 Freeway in Industry


INDUSTRY >> A man died and four other people were hurt in a six-vehicle pile-up on the 605 Freeway in Industry early Sunday, authorities said.
The deadly chain reaction crash took place about 2 a.m. on the southbound 605 Freeway, just north of Rose Hills Road, according to California Highway Patrol logs.
The man who died was standing along the roadway, not inside a vehicle, when he was struck, Officer C. Izydorek of the CHP’s Santa Fe Springs area office said in a written statement.
The circumstances of the collision remained under investigation and few details were available.
CHP logs show officials first received a report of a disabled vehicle in the carpool lane at 1:58 a.m. It had possibly struck the center divider.
Three minutes later, witnesses reported at least one additional car had smashed into the stopped vehicle.
CHP officers arrived to find four cars and two SUVs had become involved in the wreck, according to Izydorek.
“During the sequence of events, it is believed at least one of the vehicles struck the pedestrian, resulting in a fatality,” the officer said.
Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. His identity was not available Sunday pending positive identification and notification of family, coroner’s officials said.
It was not clear whether he had exited the original disabled vehicle, but the Driver of 2008 Nissan Versa involved in the pile-up was unaccounted for.
A 21-year-old Seal Beach man driving a 1970 Datson 240Z in the crash suffered major injuries, Izydorek said. His passenger, a Long Beach woman, suffered injuries described as moderate.
A man and woman who were in a 1998 Toyota Camry suffered minor injuries, officials said.
A couple riding in a 2014 Chevrolet Suburban, a couple in a 2015 Dodge Durango and a man driving a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro were unhurt, according to the CHP.
Currently, the California Highway Patrol is looking for any witnesses who may have witnessed this traffic collision,” Izydorek said. The CHP’s Santa Fe Springs area office can be reached at 562-868-0503.
Officials shut down all southbound lanes of the 605 Freeway for about seven hours following the collision, diverting traffic onto the 60 Freeway.

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Two motorcyclists injured after colliding with deer along Angeles Crest Highway

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST >> Rescuers flew two motorcyclist to a hospital on Sunday after they collided with deer in two separate incidents along Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Forest, officials said.
The collision were reported about 7:50 a.m. near mile marker 48, and at 12:38 p.m. at mile marker 44.37, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Michelle Bond. Both crash scenes are just north of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road.
Both men were flown to hospitals by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Air Rescue 5, officials said. Updated on their conditions were not available.
The two similar incidents within five hours on the same stretch of forest road prompted the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau to urge caution via Twitter.
“Slow down & watch for wildlife on Angeles Crest,” read the social media post. “#LASD Air Rescue 5 airlifting rider from motorcycle vs deer crash for the 2nd time today.”
A nonstop series of motorcycle crashes Along Angeles Crest Highway has kept rescuers busy this weekend.
Officials handled at least five injury motorcycle crashes along the road on Saturday, including one that left a 26-year-old Palmdale man dead.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

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UPDATED: Motorcyclist killed in Angeles National Forest crash


ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST >> A motorcyclist died following a crash along Angeles Crest Highway deep in the Angeles National Forest on Saturday morning, authorities said.
The solo-vehicle crash was first reported about 7:45 a.m. along Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, near Angeles Crest Highway, in the forest north of the San Gabriel Valley, California Highway Patrol Officer Peter Nicholson said.
Geyson Armando Rivera Moreno, 25, of Palmdale died in the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Kristy McCracken said.
He was riding a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R westbound at an unknown speed when, “for unknown reasons,” the cycle crossed over the double-yellow line into opposing traffic lanes, CHP Officer A. Lowery said in a written statement.
“The motorcycle overturned, and (Rivera Moreno) was subsequently ejected,” Lowery said. “(He) collided with the guardrail immediately south of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road.”
Alcohol or drugs were not initially suspected as factors in the crash, he said. The investigation was ongoing.
The crash was one of at least five injury motorcycle accidents reported along Angeles Crest Highway on Saturday, officials said.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach the CHP’s Altadena-area office during normal business hours at 626-296-8100.

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UPDATE: Driver killed in crash on 60 Freeway in South El Monte identified as Walnut woman

SOUTH EL MONTE >> A driver killed after her car crashed in to a disabled big rig on the 60 Freeway in South El Monte on Thursday has been identified as a 49-year-old Walnut woman, authorities said.
Tiffany Chiali Yi Ching died in the 1:40 p.m. crash along the westbound 60 Freeway, just east of Santa Anita Avenue, according to Ed Winter, assistant chief of operations at the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
She was at the wheel of a 2018 BMW heading west on the 60 Freeway at an unknown speed just prior to the crash, Officer J. Calder of the CHP’s East Los Angeles-area office said in a written statement.
Ahead of her was a tractor-trailer stopped along the right shoulder of the freeway, near the Santa Anita Avenue offramp, due to a mechanical breakdown, the officer said.
“(The BMW driver) made a turning movement to the right toward the Santa Anita Avenue offramp,” he said. “The BMW struck the right, rear corner of the stopped commercial trailer, continued in a westerly direction, collided a second time into the commercial trailer and the redirected to the north and came to rest on the right shoulder of the offramp.”
Paramedics pronounced Ching dead at the scene at 1:54 p.m., Winter said.
An autopsy determined Ching died from “traumatic injuries” and the death was ruled accidental, he said.
The big rig driver suffered no injuries, according to Calder.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach the CHP’s East Los Angeles-area office at 323-980-4600.

PHOTO by Keith Durflinger

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Woman killed in crash on 60 Freeway in South El Monte


SOUTH EL MONTE >> A woman died in a crash between a big rig and a car on the 60 Freeway in South El Monte on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
The deadly crash took place about 1:40 p.m. on the westbound 60 Freeway at Santa Anita Avenue, California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Rubio said.
“It appears to be a two-vehicle collision,” he said. Initial reports indicated the crash involved a big rig and a BMW sedan.
One woman was pronounced dead at the scene, Rubio said. No further description of the victim was available.
A Sig Alert was issued for the Santa Anita Avenue offramp of the westbound 60 Freeway as the investigation continued.

PHOTO by Keith Durflinger

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San Gabriel man killed in East Pasadena crash identified


EAST PASADENA >> Authorities have identified a San Gabriel man who died after his car struck a traffic signal pole at an East Pasadena intersection on Friday.
Hector Gregorio Araujo, 39, died in the 11:40 a.m. crash at Huntington and Sunny Slope drives in the unincorporated county area, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Joyce Kato said.
He was at the wheel of a 2009 Pontiac headed west on Huntington Drive in the fast lane prior to the crash, California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
“For reasons that are still under investigation, (Araujo) made an unsafe turning movement to the left where the front of his Pontiac collided with a metal pole at the west edge of the intersection,” according to the statement.
Paramedics pronounced Araujo, the sole occupant of the car, dead at the scene, officials said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Mohun of the CHP’s Altadena-area office at 626) 296-8100.

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