The Antelope Valley Times

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Driver arrested in double fatal crash

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The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, on Palmdale Boulevard, west of 130th Street East, according to the California Highway Patrol. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
PALMDALE — Ten days after a single-vehicle crash killed two passengers, tips from the community led authorities to the driver who allegedly fled the scene.

Samantha Lozano, 26, of Palmdale, was arrested around 5:18 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, according to LASD inmate records.

Samantha Lozano [Image via CHP]
Lozano was captured after a Palmdale tipster reported that Lozano was linked to a vehicle in the vicinity of Palmdale Boulevard, west of the 14 Freeway, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Gil Hernandez.

“We spotted the vehicle, conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and received information on where she was staying in Palmdale,” Hernandez said.

CHP officers then responded to an apartment complex in Palmdale where Lozano was staying with friends, and she was taken into custody without incident, Hernandez said.

Lozano was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing bodily injury or death, with more charges expected, according to Hernandez.

The flipping car struck a wooden utility pole and came to rest on its wheels. [LUIS MEZA]
The charges stem from a deadly collision that occurred around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, on Palmdale Boulevard, west of 130th Street East.

Lozano was driving a 1999 Infinity G20 westbound on Palmdale Boulevard when the vehicle veered off the road, overturned and crashed into a utility pole, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Passenger Steve Wissar Jr., 20, of Palmdale, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Four people in the backseat of the car were ejected while the vehicle was overturning. All four backseat passengers — Sodel Wissar, 21, of Palmdale; Talia Novak, 20, of Palmdale; Jacob Soto, 18, of Urbandale, IA; and a 17-year-old boy from North Hills — were transported to local hospitals with major injuries.

Novak was later pronounced dead.

Lozano allegedly fled the crash scene in an unknown vehicle, according to the CHP.

The CHP then released an image of Lozano and asked for the public’s help in locating her.

Anyone who witnessed this crash is encouraged to contact investigating office J. Hart at the AV CHP Office at 661-948-8541.

Previous related story: Driver sought in fatal Littlerock crash

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39 comments for "Driver arrested in double fatal crash"

  1. Yesterday Talias Father Thaddaeus Novak and His Wife Kamila had A Celebration of Talias Life and Many came and We will also Celebrate Talias Birtnday on Tuesday the 21st It will be Her Special 21st Birthday She will be Celebrating in Heaven Then on March 11th Talias Father is having A Formal Memorial at The Mormon Church in Fair Oaks Ca. At 4 oclock All of Talias Friends are invited We have a Head Count of over 100 People coming She did not deserve to Leave Her Children Now without a Mother or Father We Love and Miss Talia and may She Rest in Peace knowing We will never be able to hear her sweet Hello again or get her great huggs She was a Fun Girl This is Her Grandmother Sugar on Her Fathers Side saying Thank You to All and We are praying for Stevens Family and for The Boys that are still fighting for their lives and Their Families If you can come Remember Talia s Life with Us on the 11th call Me for the details 916-224-2779 We send Blessings to Talias Mother Lisa and Her Older Sister Ashley and Grandma and Grandpa .

  2. SO SHE WAS TIPPED OFF BY HER FRIEND…. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE SNITCHED ON… THE WAY SHE SNITCHED ON THE WAY YOU SNITCHED ON YOUR FRIEND… LOL IN LIFE YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE SAMMY … R.I.P STEVEN AND THALIA MAY YOU REST IN PEACE…

    P.S. AND [removed] LETTY TOO

  4. Human beings are fallible, they panic under stress, they make mistakes. Maybe the people making comments on here should just STFU and go back to scarfing down Twinkies and possibly, just possibly, make an attempt to get their info from another source than the AVpropagandaTIMES.

    • Well, the fact is she did not panic. Her actions represent nothing of the sort. Samantha is a drug dealer and a degenerate tweaker who ran from police for ten days after killing two people and greviously injuring others. She did not grieve for her friends-she is a coward who tried to place the blame on them. And she partied all the while with her degenerate friends and family who helped her hide. She represents the worst part of humanity.

    • I’m pretty [removed] sure that the av times isn’t the only source of info. Maybe the [removed] should have stayed at the scene of the accident and handled her [removed] business like an adult instead of running like a [removed] and leaving my cousins for dead. Everything this [removed] has coming to her she [removed] deserves.

      • Sorry for yours and your familys loss Charity. We all know our justice system sucks. Hopefully they don’t let this one slip through the cracks and IF they do just remember she still has to face God.
        Im praying for you and your family to find peace, strength and understanding in this time of grief.

    • Are you stupid. This girl killed 2’people and seriously injured 4 others. Dude, get a life u must b an idiot. Have some sympathy for all of the families & people that Samantha affected. She’s not a good person. Also, when they finnaly arrested she had a lot of meth in her possession. You would think that all the time she spent on the run, she would have been trying to get her life somewhat together. No, adding insult to injury she was just out selling meth. This valley we live in is full of meth, & heroine addicts, we as a community should come together, stop being afraid and get these idiots outta here. If you know people that are doing or selling these drugs don’t be afraid, turn them in, so that maybe there can be some kind of good that comes outta this horrific tragedy. My love, & prayers too out to all the people this has affected, even to Samantha’s mother, & family! N

      • PS, I hope the judge sentices her to the max, keep her in prison with a “LIFE SENTENCE”. Just saying.

  6. … sanctuary city courts always go easy on Mexicans. All she has to do to get off scoff free is, start talking it up about Donald Trump, and the courts will automatically cut her loose. She’ll fix up her hair, dress up all pretty like for her day in sanctuary city court, bat her eye lashes at the judge, and our intellectually bankrupt judicial system will bend over backward rewarding her for validating their narrative, astutely presenting extenuating circumstance how bad she’s had on account Donald Trump became president –

    • I have no idea how it will go for her. But your ravings will go on for ever. As a fellow Republican I have to say we Mexican Americans also voted for Trump and in no way speak about anyone with that anger. Your bound to have a nice heart attack soon. Love ❤️

  8. She left her friends to die. What a wonderful friend she must be! I’m sure she’ll make many new acquaintances in prison!

  9. This has been so overwhelming to my family. Believe me when I say that we are excited that this chapter of this very sad story is over. We would now like some answers. I don’t want to hear that they stole the car and that you were out of town we know that is not true. steven and talia left behind many people who loved we will not get say I love you, hug them, we have been robed of a lifetime of memories. At the same time we cannot forget about the other people who will be hurting. and that is the family memeber of you samantha your actions are going to reach and ripple farther than you will ever know. Say again to the community leaving comments lets be reminded that the situation as a whole is sad. there are no winners or losers everyone hurts. Samantha if you would of just stayed at the scene and been responsible my family would have more understanding and compassion towards the situation but you did not. So what are we to think? you even went so far as to say my nephews took your car and that you were never even in town. I would like to thank the community for your out pouring of prayers and support for the wissar family we appreciate individuals that helped at the car wash, the gofund, to you God send people who stopped and helped my family and did all that you could do to help thank you from the bottom of our hearts…….Remember we do not have the right to pass judgement nor should we assume anything……..

    Thank you from the wissar family…

  10. Our thank yous to the community who have been soo involved in this heart crushing incident! On behalf of my family and all the victims involved! My deepest condolences to Jacobs family members!
    I thank you sooo much for what you are all doing for Brandon! The LORD Will repay you with many blessings! I also forgive Samantha Lozano! I can’t condemn nor judge her! Young people make poor choices in life! And I pray for mercy over you. And I am greatful to The LORD Jesus Christ for saving my son and his best friend!! No hatred, on my behalf! For GOD is the only Judge! But justice must be served! Thanks to CHP officers for such a great and fast job! God bless

  11. I agree she should have the book thrown at her but the other adults let her drive must ask why they went with her ???

  12. Ppl are so [removed] stupid i font believe my best friend would do this that [removed] that was beating her did it come up nd say u stole it [removed]!!

    • Well u do now. she did it right.I mean why tf would she [removed] hide out if she ain’t guilty simple as that.was she hiding out to hide the bruises she got.hope your best friend rots in jail I’d becareful who u call friends cuz looks like she left her for dead smh ..

    • Well Annie I guess you’re the one that is the FOOL NOW , you can go visit your friend on the weekends

    • There are two sides to every story Annie regardless of what was going on in their relationship she as the driver was responsible and should have been an adult and stayed at the accident. Instead she ran like a bitch and left MY FAMILY for dead without a second thought. I don’t feel sorry for her I feel sorry for her family

  13. Glad they finally caught her. Now tell us what everybody wants to know…where has she been, and what is her excuse for running and hiding…We all want to know the whole story ! What exactly happened to cause the crash. and where did she go. Hope all the folks who helped her hide get punished along with her! What is wrong with people, helping somebody who cares so little about her “friends” that she could just walk away while they died?There is no excuse for how she handled this whole thing, if she had just turned herself in and accepted responsibility, took what punishment she deserves…But to just walk away, and lie about what happened is like spitting in her “friends” faces. Hope they put her away for the rest of her life. She deserves whatever they do to her!

    • U all don’t know the real truth ask one of the passengers wat really happens.he still loves her and he’s to blame is $300 worth UR family’s life..

      • why not tell us what really happened instead of vaguely giving up info that means nothing in your gibberish vocabulary? What does $300 have to do with anything? If you want people to believe you and if you want people to believe the story, tell the entire story!

  14. So young and learning not to make the wrong decisions the hard way. Many of us go through it and must suffer the consequences. My prayers for everyone involved and may your eyes, and ears be open to the lessons to be learned.

  15. She should have turned herself in. She deserves everything coming her way! I have no sympathy for her.
    Please think twice about who your friends really are! Do not get in a car if there is no seat or seat belt for you!
    Always wear a seat belt!! Youth does not equal invincibility. Your time is very limited here, life is too short. Hold your love ones close because you never know if today will be your last!! Condolence’s to the victims & their families.