A chain-reaction crash involving nine vehicles on the 14 Freeway on the afternoon of Monday, June 17th appears to have been caused by a man under the influence of methamphetamine. Rick Allen Walker, 54 of Canyon Country, was driving the wrong way on the freeway at excessive speeds.
The crash occurred around 4:36 p.m. on the Antelope Valley Freeway near Agua Dulce at Vasquez Rocks Park. According to authorities, Walker entered the northbound lanes of the 14 Freeway, driving south. Walker passed two CHP vehicles at an accident site driving about 85 miles per hour, just before he crashed head-on into a Dodge 2500 pickup truck. Seven more vehicles became entangled in the original crash, injuring 13 people, three critically, who were airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital.
Authorities has begun to release the names of injured motorists. Myisha Hatfield, 36 of Lancaster, was driving a 2008 Infinity and suffered minor injuries. Fernando Lopez, 48 of Lancaster, was a passenger in a 1998 Toyota Tacoma and suffered a compound fracture of his left arm. David Becker, 53 of Palmdale, was driving a GMC Sonoma and suffered serious injuries, including a broken back, and was taken to Henry Mayo Hospital. Maryann Looram, 59 of Palmdale, was driving a 2001 Honda Accord, and also suffered a broken back and was taken to Henry Mayo Hospital.
Walker failed a field sobriety test at the scene of the accident and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of methamphetamine. He was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and taken to L.A. County Jail.
