ANTELOPE VALLEY – A 39-year-old Palmdale man suffered major injuries Wednesday morning following a three-vehicle collision on the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.
Luis Hernandez had to be extricated from his vehicle and suffered fractured ribs and a lacerated liver as a result of the three-vehicle collision, which occurred around 4:04 a.m. on the 14 Freeway, south of Vincent Summit, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
Hernandez was driving a 1995 Honda Civic southbound in the No. 2 lane when a truck spun out of control and collided with Hernandez’ vehicle and the concrete center median, according to the CHP report.
The 2006 Nissan Titan, which was being driven by 55-year-old Jose Luis Martinez of Palmdale, was traveling at an “unsafe speed for the icy/wet roadway,” according to the CHP report.
Martinez suffered only minor injuries, but his passenger, 25-year-old George Franco of Lancaster, suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to Palmdale Regional Medical Center.
A third vehicle, a 2008 Lexus, approached the crash location at “an unsafe speed for the wet/icy roadway” and also collided with Hernandez’ vehicle, according to the CHP report.
The third driver, 44-year-old Tha Kouy of Palmdale, complained of pain to the chest, but was not transported to the hospital.
The southbound lanes of the 14 Freeway were closed for approximately one hour due to the three-vehicle collision. Traffic was diverted to Pearblossom Highway.
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