COUNTY HELD BLAMELESS IN LAKE CRASH JUDGE DISMISSES COMPLAINT FILED BY FAMILY OF TEEN KILLED IN PLUNGE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of a 19-year-old Lake Hughes man who was one of two teenage passengers killed when a car plunged into Elizabeth Lake.

Antelope Valley Superior Court Judge Alan Rosenfield granted a motion to dismiss the case filed against Los Angeles County government by the family of Clifton Johnson.

``I will submit a proposed judgment in favor of defendant county of Los Angeles. It will dispose of the case, unless they appeal,'' Deputy County Counsel Brian Chu said Monday.

The attorney for Johnson's family did not respond Monday to requests for comment. Rosenfield had granted the motion last week.

Johnson and 15-year-old Timothy Grimsley of Green Valley died when the 1975 Chevrolet Nova in which they were riding Feb. 9, 2002, plunged into Elizabeth Lake, more than two miles east of Lake Hughes Road.

Johnson's family blamed county government for the fatalities that occurred after the car sailed off Elizabeth Lake Road, hit a tree and tumbled down an embankment into the frigid lake waters.

The driver, 20-year-old Caleb Burge of Lake Hughes, the only one of the three young men in the car who was wearing a seat belt, was able to get out, officials said.

California Highway Patrol officials said Burge told them he was driving about 8:40 p.m. on the road bordering the lake when he swerved to avoid a coyote.

Passing motorists pulled Johnson and Grimsley out of the submerged car, but the two could not be revived, officials said.

Coroner's officials said head injuries caused the deaths of the two.

Burge's injuries included a fractured collarbone and a broken wrist.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com