UPDATE (Wednesday, April 14, 2:04 p.m.)—California Highway Patrol has confirmed that the motorcycle was positioned in the bed of the pickup truck, prior to the accident and was ejected during the crash, so was not involved in the events which led to the accident.

UPDATE (Monday, April 12, 9:40 a.m.)—California Highway Patrol Officer Luetger reports that Anthony Templeton Jr., 27 of Suisun City was driving a 2007 Ford Ranger pickup truck northbound in the number two lane and, for unknown reasons, lost control, crossing lanes where he collided with a 1999 Ford Explorer in the number four lane with two occupants. Both vehicles went off the freeway and down a 25 feet embankment. The Ford Explorer overtuned at least twice, according to CHP. Pine Mountain resident Walter Herbeck was wearing his seatbelt as a passenger in the right front seat of the Ford Explorer and sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. The Kern County Coroner’s office incorrectly reported that Herbeck was a passenger in the Ford Ranger pickup truck. The driver of the Ford Explorer, William Wilhelm, 63 of Sylmar was flown by helicopter to Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.Templeton and his passenger Thomas Johansen, 51 of Fairfield, suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Henry Mayo Hospital in Newhall.

Our initial report indicated that a damaged motorcycle observed amongst the wreckage of the two automobiles was involved in the accident. It now appears that the motorcycle may not have been involved. This will be clarified later today.

UPDATE (Saturday, April 10, 11:30 p.m.)—The Kern County Coroner’s Office has disclosed that Walter Otto Herbeck, 72 of Pine Mountain, died in this accident today.

FRAZIER PARK, California (Saturday, April 10, 2010, 3:22 p.m.) At about 2 p.m., three vehicles went over the side of northbound Interstate 5, a half mile south of Frazier Mountain Park Road.

One person died as a result of the crash and three others were injured. One pickup truck, one sedan and one motorcycle were involved—the cause of the accident was not known at the time of this report. One of the injured was airlifted to a hospital by Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Helicopter 15. The names of the victims and places of residence were not known at the scene.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Engine 149 and Kern County Fire Department Engines 55, 56 and 57 responded, as well as Hall Ambulance and American Medical Response. Although the accident occurred within Los Angeles County’s jurisdiction, Kern County Battalion Chief Kirk Kushen appeared to be in command as both Los Angeles County and Kern County firefighters worked to extricate the dead and injured from the crumpled vehicles.

This is part of the April 09, 2010 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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