Head-on collision kills one, closes Highway 138

  • Paul W. Rivas, 51 of Lancaster died in a head-on collision on Highway 138 (Ave. D, between 140th and 150th Street West) on Monday, Jan. 14 at about 11 a.m. L.A. County firefighters brought jaws of life to try to get him out of the truck.

    Paul W. Rivas, 51 of Lancaster died in a head-on collision on Highway 138 (Ave. D, between 140th and 150th Street West) on Monday, Jan. 14 at about 11 a.m. L.A. County firefighters brought jaws of life to try to get him out of the truck.

Paul W. Rivas, 51 of Lancaster died in a head-on collision on Highway 138 (Ave. D, between 140th and 150th Street West) on Monday, Jan. 14 at about 11 a.m. The roadway was closed to traffic until 5:30 p.m. The Los Angeles County Fire Department used ‘jaws of life’ to extricate Rivas from the pickup truck. California Highway Patrol reported that Rivas was eastbound, had drifted off the roadway to the south, over-corrected back to the north and into the path of the westbound big rig, driven by Clarence Bonam, 44 of Adelanto, who suffered a minor injury to his left leg.

His cargo was tires. About 180 gallons of diesel fuel was cleaned up by Caltrans and L.A. County Health Department. Community reporter Jeff Zimmerman said Engine Company 78 from Lake Hughes and Engine and Squad 135 from Lancaster were at the scene. Highway 138 was closed in both directions. Drivers were advised to use 170th Street West to Ave I.

This is part of the January 18, 2013 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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