NEWHALL – A suspected drunk driver was arrested Saturday morning after he drove his pickup truck in the wrong direction on the 14 Freeway and caused a collision that killed a 77-year-old driver from Quartz Hill and critically injured the driver’s passengers.
The fatal collision happened around 3:23 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, just south of Escondido Canyon Road, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
Burbank resident Bradford E. Pate, 38, drove his 2006 Toyota Tundra south onto the northbound lanes of the freeway, just north of Escondido Canyon Road, the CHP report states.
The pickup truck collided head-on with a 2006 Chrysler, killing the driver and critically injuring two passengers.
Pate’s pickup truck rolled over after the collision, while the Chrysler deflected and struck a 2013 Ford Econoline van, the CHP report states.
The van’s driver, 43-year-old Juan M. Zamora of Lancaster, did not sustain any injuries in the crash; but a passenger, 42-year-old Quartz Hill resident Patrick Glesby, sustained minor injuries, including a cut to the left arm, according to the CHP report.
The Chrysler’s driver, 77-year-old Manard Giles Jr. of Quartz Hill, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, 43-year-old Lennard A. Wilds of Lancaster, was airlifted to Henry Mayo Hospital with life threatening injuries. A female passenger who was not identified was airlifted to Holy Cross Hospital with life threatening injuries, the CHP report states.
Pate was arrested on suspicion of DUI causing injuries and DUI causing injury with a blood alcohol content of .08 or above. He was admitted to Henry Mayo Hospital with major injuries.
The incident remains under investigation.
Saturday’s predawn collision is the second wrong way collision this week on the 14 Freeway. Both crashes happened along the same stretch of roadway. Read more on the first collision here.
Previous related stories: Drugged driver causes freeway pileup, local residents injured
UPDATED @ 5:57 p.m. 6/22/13: The driver killed in the collision has been identified as 77-year-old MANARD GILES JR. of QUARTZ HILL, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
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lisa avilez says
i havent personally met him but i know his son he resides in rialto he was my sons neighbor my deepest sympothy to his family lenny im so sorry to hear this from angel rodriguez ur old neighbor before he moved to his new place god bless all u he is a angel watching down on us now i agree i dont live up there but use to go up there of the 14 to visit friends its very dangeraous and pure idiotatic to get behind the wheel and risk u may take another life as u have get off drugs and booze there is a great life as a recovered addict i enjoy my clean and sober time i have been clean for years and will stay that way for i love my brothers and sisters thru the lord christ
Michael Rives says
My condolences to the family of the deceased.
The drive on the 14 used to be nice, but, lately, I am on edge like I am on the 5 or 210.
We have enough problems with alcohol and hard drugs, do we really want to make pot easily available for drivers? We have enough grief as it is.
NorthCounty says
Reefer MADNESS – Seriously? Was pot even a factor? You’re worried about “pot being available for drivers” – That doesn’t even make any sense. Did this POS just buy a hefty bag of weed from a nocturnal weed dealer posted up at Escondido Canyon before he went the wrong way on the freeway? Even if he did, a DUI is not just for alcohol, and he was found to be DUI from alcohol. Based upon your statement we should burn down every gas station and bar that sells alcohol within a 150 mile radius. A drunk idiot kills some poor 77 year old man a few days after a fine citizen loaded on methamphetamine caused a pile up and you’re concerned with the ‘devils lettuce’ … Gimmeeeeee a break.
How about “Don’t drink or do anything that impairs your ability to drive if you’re going to get behind the wheel” … Nyquil will impair you and is grounds for a DUI – Are you going to boycott Rite-Aid now too…? Blame the person responsible and hold him accountable.
Desiree Fisher says
God bless the family so sorry to hear
Anonymous says
R.I.P to my grandpa Maynard Giles gone but never forgotten your truly missed and loved by others
Jenny says
My thoughts and prayers are with you and any others that know Mr. Giles. May you find peace, comfort and healing in this loss.
Pastor John and Thressa Ward says
We are so sorry for this major earthly loss. Our prayers are with your family and we know that Pastor Giles is indeed present with our Lord.
nadia says
Apparently the signs are not clear or visible…I suggest big signs with lights that flash off and on and stay on if a car/truck enters…
The spikes are a good investment. Very suspicious that this happened twice in 1 week & on the same stretch of the 14. I recall driving through Acton late at night and there aren’t that many drivers on the road so where are the CHP…I did see someone attempt to go in a wrong-way ramp at Sand Canyon, but the fool made a sudden U turn almost causing an accident anyways…but the CHP was there quick…
Good idea to have DUI checkpoint as it is obvious one is needed in that area also…
In the meantime, be very aware when driving North on the 14 freeway…
LRock says
This off ramp should be looked at, marked better, maybe. I know these drivers were under the influence of something but 2 wrong way accidents on the same stretch??
Fed Up says
No excuses for driving on drugs or drunk. With that being said I wonder if it’s possible or feasible to put those one way spikes you see in pay parking lots that say “Do not back up, severe tire damage”. A couple of those on ramps look like they might be tricky at night to someone not familiar with them. Just a thought.
NRA member says
Whats wrong with people?? Another crackhead probably..