Authorities Thursday were investigating a head-on collision on a curving roadway north of Newhall, where two motorists suffered major injuries.
The crash occurred about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday on San Francisquito Canyon Road at Mile Marker 8.9, the California Highway Patrol reported.
According to the preliminary investigation, Carlos Ballardo, 28, of Lancaster was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt at about 80 mph north on San Francisquito Road, “approaching a westerly blind curve in the roadway,” a CHP statement said. Meanwhile, Brian Zimmerman, 37, of Green Valley was southbound in a 2013 Hyundai Elantra approaching the same location at about 50 miles per hour, the CHP said.
“(Ballardo) moved his vehicle from the northbound lane into the southbound lane across double solid yellow lines in order to pass slower traffic traveling northbound,” the CHP said.
“Witnesses stated (Ballardo) passed approximately five to six vehicles at an extremely high rate of speed and in a reckless manner in the southbound lane as he entered the blind curve in the roadway,” the CHP said.
The two vehicles then collided head-on. Paramedics transported both motorists for hospital treatment. Ballardo was not immediately arrested, but the investigation was continuing.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the CHP’s Newhall Area office at (661) 294-5540.
—City News Service