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Elderly driver injured, passenger killed in Lancaster car crash

by The AV Times Staff • July 8, 2015

(Photo by LUIS MEZA)
(Photo by LUIS MEZA)

LANCASTER – An elderly driver was critically injured and his wife killed in a single-car crash in Lancaster late Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The fatal collision happened just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, on Avenue M near 30th Street West.

The husband and wife, both in their 80s, were in a Ford Fusion speeding westbound on Avenue M when the vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic near the 30th Street West intersection, according to Detective Michael Politano of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The car crashed into this fence and knocked down a pole before flipping and then crashing into a second pole, detectives said. (LUIS MEZA)
The car crashed into this fence and knocked down a pole before flipping and then crashing into a second pole, detectives said. (LUIS MEZA)

While on the wrong side of the road, the vehicle jumped a curb and hit a concrete pole, Politano said.

“It did flip in some manner and then hit a secondary pole,” the detective added.

The driver was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital in critical condition and his passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Politano. Their names were not released Wednesday night.

“Alcohol is not suspected as a cause in the crash or a factor at this point,” Politano said. “We’re still going to have to investigate that as to why he was going at such a high rate of speed… either he had a medical problem or there was an issue with the car, and I’m leaning more toward medical issue – it’s a pretty new car.”

Investigators will be downloading the car’s event data recorder (black box) “to understand more about the dynamics of the collision and how it happened,” Politano said.

UPDATE: The woman killed in the crash has been identified as 90-year-old Marie Louise Saldubehere of Lancaster, according to coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

16 comments for "Elderly driver injured, passenger killed in Lancaster car crash"

  1. Larry says

    July 10, 2015 at 10:28 pm

    So sad, both were just wonderful persons and great to visit with. Always enjoyed listening to the stories from so many years ago. When I would walk up to visit with him he would always greet me with “Hows it going there young feller”. Praying for a recovery and thankful for the pleasure of knowing them.

  2. Felisa Maisterrena Theiss says

    July 10, 2015 at 12:31 am

    My thoughts and prayers go out to this wonderful couple and to their family and friends. (My family had the great honor to call them friends.

  3. jesse says

    July 9, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    So sad I witnessed this event when I was going to class, the car spinned sideways in the air and hit the pole. I was 30feet away from getting hit…

  4. Betty Flores says

    July 9, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    Very nice gentlemen. Did NOT drink or drugs. Suspected stroke… Which can happen to anyone at any age. Many old people are better drivers than most young people!

  5. Steve perry says

    July 9, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    Old people should not drive…

    • Just Saying says

      July 10, 2015 at 10:16 am

      Well, yes and no. Driving skills deteriorate at different ages. Law enforcement Know the signs and gently remove seniors of concern, off the roads everyday. You don’t have to be old to have a stroke, especially if you smoke. AARP has an online driver course that helps elderly drivers evaluate their own driving fitness, and provides an insurance discount with most companies.The same course will also get adult drivers a discount, and provides an excellent guide for having that driving talk with elderly parents.

    • John Williams says

      July 10, 2015 at 3:51 pm

      Dear Steve,
      You aparently know…wink wink..all the elderly people in the world!!
      And are and full of perfection and in good health! Well News flash..you’ll
      Be old some day! I hope someday you’ll muster up some compation in that
      Tiny heart you seem to have; and I hope you do that before your head is too big to fit through the door !!!! Just my opinion. If you even knew Mr. Anderson and the countless times I rode with him and his impecable mind set to always drive safe and despised people who speed an drive unsafe
      You’d be eating “Crow for dinner” !!!!! I know from 52 years plus expierience
      Knowing him. So judge not that he be not judged; for which that same judgement ye judge he shall also be judged! Just my opinion…

  6. Anon says

    July 9, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    This is so sad I drove past the scene yesterday before the police arrived and I saw the women’s arm hanging out lifelessly and the passengers body. So devistating.

    • Johnny Trece says

      July 9, 2015 at 11:17 pm

      Did you stop to offer aid?

      • Tim Scott says

        July 10, 2015 at 3:22 pm

        Offer aid?

        I never open the car door until I am in the garage with the door shut myself. Crime rate. Haven’t you heard? There’s a killer behind every blade of grass, and a whole army of thugs could hide in those bushes!

        [/sarcasm]

        • mary says

          July 15, 2015 at 3:31 pm

          Sadly it is this bad. I always lock my car door now when I drive. I live in fear here 

          • Tim Scott says

            July 15, 2015 at 4:10 pm

            I actually marked that with the sarcasm tag for fear that someone wouldn’t recognize it for what it was. Waste of characters, apparently.

            Mary, where do you propose that you wouldn’t “live in fear”? There is really no reason to here, so I’m wondering what it would take.

            Desert island where you are the only resident?

            A quartet of hired thugs traveling in phalanx around you everywhere you go?

            Privately owned tank?

      • Adrienne Goyeneche says

        July 13, 2015 at 10:47 pm

        Next time before writing such a descriptive sentence, please think of the consequences it could have upon friends and family.
        Woman’s daughter

  7. tina says

    July 9, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    My prayers are with the family

  8. Annamous says

    July 9, 2015 at 9:11 am

    My thoughts and prayers go out to this couples family.

  9. Tony says

    July 9, 2015 at 5:26 am

    So sad to read news like this…
    May the lady rest in peace and hopes for the husband to make it out of the hospital with good health.

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