FATAL CRASH PALMDALE MAN, 85, KILLED IN COLLISION.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - An 85-year-old Palmdale man was killed Friday morning when he tried to turn left onto Avenue I from a parking lot and failed to see an oncoming SUV, officials said.

The pickup truck driven bywas hit in the driver's door by a Ford Bronco and knocked across three lanes of traffic and into a parking lot.

``He cleared the No. 3 lane then the No. 2 lane but apparently didn't see the No. 1 lane, the fast lane,'' said Sgt. Gus Risinger.

Injured was Powell's passenger, Donald Edwin Cook, 69, of Big Bear Lake, who suffered minor aches and pains and was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital. The Bronco's driver, John Evans Eastburn, 28, of Lancaster was not taken to the hospital.

The collision occurred at 10:49 a.m. as Powell's Ford Ranger pulled out of the parking lot of Kay's Deli on the south side of the 1200 block of West Avenue I. As he made a left turn to drive west, the pickup was hit broadside by the Bronco.

Powell apparently didn't see the sport utility vehicle and Eastburn told deputies he attempted to swerve to avoid the Ranger but that it was too late.

Ambulances transported Powell to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

``We've determined that Powell was at fault since he did fail to yield to oncoming traffic,'' Risinger said. ``It was just such a shame anyway you look at it.''

Avenue I from 10th Street West to 13th Street West was blocked in both directions for more than three hours while traffic deputies conducted their investigation.

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(color) Firefighters examine the wreckage of a Ford Ranger that was hit broadside by a sport utility vehicle Friday in Lancaster. The driver died.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer