CRASH KILLS DRIVER, INJURES DAUGHTER.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

A motorist was killed early Friday morning after failing to make a turn in the road on the way home from a Christmas party.

Harold Faunce, 39, of Santa Clarita was killed in the 2:25 a.m. crash after he and his 19-year-old daughter, Desiree, were thrown from a 1991 Toyota pickup truck on Vasquez Canyon Road. She remained in the hospital Friday afternoon with moderate injuries, authorities said.

``Both parties were ejected and the pickup truck rolled on top of him,'' said Sgt. Rick Sirovy of the California Highway Patrol Newhall Station. ``He suffered fatal injuries.''

Desiree Faunce was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries to her head, neck and face. Her condition was not available.

Officials said the two were headed home from a party in Agua Dulce and were westbound on Vasquez Canyon Road approaching Bouquet Canyon Road when the elder Faunce lost control of the vehicle.

Faunce drifted from the westbound lane, crossing into eastbound lanes and then to the shoulder. Apparently trying to get back on the road, he crossed back to the westbound lanes before hitting an embankment off the westbound shoulder, officials said.

Both Faunce and his daughter were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the truck, officials said.

The truck rolled up the embankment and then rolled down, landing on top of Faunce and killing him instantly, the CHP reported.

Although officials said they suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, they said that if both parties had been wearing seat belts, they might have avoided serious injury.