News media in southern California are reporting that a crew carrier transporting a California inmate fire crew was involved in a head-on crash with another vehicle on Highway 138 in Gorman this afternoon. The Los Angeles Times and ABC7 report that prisoners were ejected from the vehicle. One inmate was killed and 12 were injured. Three of the injured are in critical condition. The elderly driver of the other vehicle was also killed. The supervisor of the crew, a firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, was not killed, according to ABC7.
A California Highway Patrol investigator said a Subaru Forester crossed the center line and crashed into the crew carrier.
The crash occurred at 2:18 p.m. today on Highway 138 just east of Interstate 5.
The AP reports:
The crew was one of four based at a camp near the crash site in San Francisquito Canyon in Saugus, [Los Angeles County fire inspector Matt] Levesque said. The county and the California Department of Corrections work together to maintain 10 such camps throughout LA county.
Los Angeles County supervises California state inmates at five camps in the county. The crew was one of the four crews stationed at Camp 14 near Santa Clarita, CA.
Our sincere condolences go out to the families and coworkers.
Thanks Brian
Thank you to all our family and friends who send their love, thoughts, and prayers in our most recent loss. Fernando Julio Sanchez, youngest child of Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez, lost his life on 11-23-10 in a Tragic car accident while serving as a Firefighter for Cal Fire.
Services will be held on Wednesday (12/1) at 2200 Highland Ave in National City at California Cremation and Burial between 3pm-9pm.
Funeral will begin at 11:00 am on Thursday (12/2) at California Cremation and Burial. funeral will take place at Holy Cross Cemetary followed with a Celebration of Life at the Centro Cultural de la Raza, 2004 Park Blvd.
Donations can be mailed to: Ramon Sanchez 6367 Radio Dr, San Diego, Ca 92114.