LANCASTER – Authorities have identified the driver who died Friday when her vehicle went off the side of the 14 Freeway in Lancaster.
She was 39-year-old Maricela Valenzuela of Rosamond, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
The fatal solo-vehicle crash was reported around 2:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, on the northbound side of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, just north of West Avenue L, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
Valenzuela was driving a 2020 Toyota Corolla northbound on SR-14 “at a high rate of speed and, for unknown reasons, unsafely turned [the vehicle] to the left, causing [the vehicle] to enter the center median and lose control,” the CHP report states.
“[The vehicle] traveled out of control across all lanes, traversed the dirt embankment, and become airborne. [The vehicle] crashed into two parked vehicles, causing it to overturn multiple times, before coming to rest in the Antelope Valley Chevrolet parking lot,” the CHP report states.
Valenzuela sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were immediately reported.
“The cause of this traffic collision is still under investigation. The use of alcohol and/or drugs is still under investigation,” the CHP report states.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is encouraged to contact Officer D. Jackson, ID 21569, at the Antelope Valley Area CHP office at 661-948-8541.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story was revised to correct the victim’s name and age. Comments were disabled on 11/29/22 at the request of the victim’s family.
–
Okera Damani says
I love you Mari. Thank you for being such a great friend and healer to me. I will always remember our conversations and bond. I’m completely devastated by this and also thankful that our last conversation ended with expressions of love. Someone on here who knows me and who knew her please give me a number for Tre. Also, has there been any service for her yet? I’d like to attend if one has been planned. I would also like more details if possible about how this happened to her. Thanks in advance.
Emily says
Thank you for your kind words.
This is her oldest sister. Please Email me at em_perative@yahoo.com
Willa R Richard says
Condolences to her loved ones….Rest in Heaven
Koshana Jones says
Rest in heaven Mari..You will be missed by a whole community who loves you..I can’t even believe randoms have something to say on here.
You were the best mom in the world. We will look after Tre for you. I can’t believe this happened to such a beautiful soul
Raq says
Why have anything to say about the victim in this accident?! A life has been lost here. I know this woman. I know it was not drug or alcohol related. Simply recognize that a life has been lost and the people who loved her are devastated.
Yaika Franklin says
No matter what caused the accident she is somebody’s mother sister auntie daughter, whether she was under the influence or not someone lost their life it’s always a label on something when somebody have an accident it’s either drugs it’s either gangs can it just be what it is a human being died on the freeway she didn’t wake up and think that she was going to roll over several times quite sure she didn’t but all I’m going to say is whenever she is and their family my condolences for your loss
Shannon Wainwright says
Why did anybody think about drugs and alcohol first when it comes to an accident maybe the lady was in a hurry he had family problems or maybe somebody died or something found your kid you guys shouldn’t do that to people stereotyped and drugs and alcohol just because this Valley is getting bad and it’s really bad right now you still don’t have to blame drugs and alcohol is here because there’s normal people it’s on drug addiction alcoholics and bad people here remember this used to be a nice community this whole value was a nice community people got along it wasn’t bad then they started closing the products down in LA and shipping the people up here along with the people that came to live up here with their families in prison so now be careful what you say about the people here because not everybody is a drug and alcohol person they’re normal people live here trying to raise their families in this hell hole So get real people keep it nice don’t assume anything until you know a whole story because you may be putting somebody’s life at risk you know that
Sean Doughty says
I drive by after it happened I guess. I seen the car upside down in the parking lot of the Chevy Dealer. Just blew my mind. This 14 Fwy remind me of the 15 fwy. Otherwise known as the Highway of death. Send like the 14 Fwy is getting the same rep. I just moved her from east l.a. everyone is in a damn hurry on this fwy. Either u breakdown or crash on the 14. Smh
Fast and Furious: Lancaster says
“[The vehicle] traveled out of control across all lanes, traversed the dirt embankment, and become airborne. [The vehicle] crashed into two parked vehicles, causing it to overturn multiple times, before coming to rest…”
Sounds like something out of a movie.