RIDER IN SUV KILLED IN CRASH WITH A BIG RIG; COLLISION OCCURS IN LITTLEROCK.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A 36-year-old Littlerock man was killed Saturday when the sport-utility vehicle he was riding in was hit by a big rig, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Charles Pridgen died shortly after 2:20 p.m. on Pearblossom Highway east of 96th Street East on Saturday when his vehicle was hit head-on by a 1996 Freightliner, officials said.

Officials said Ricky Ellington, 43, of Paris, Ariz., was traveling east in the big rig on Pearblossom Highway when he swerved into the westbound lane and first hit a 1965 Chevrolet Malibu.

The big rig continued in westbound traffic and collided head-on with the 1996 Chevrolet sport-utility vehicle in which Pridgen was a passenger, pushing that vehicle into eastbound lanes where it was also struck by a 1982 Mercury Zephyr, CHP officials said.

The driver of the sport-utility vehicle, 27-year-old Danny Adams, of Lancaster was airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where he was treated and released, authorities said.

Ellington and his passenger Marvin Ellington, 64, also of Paris, were airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where they were treated and released, officials said.

Dominic Sparks, 19, of Palmdale, who was driving the Mercury Zephyr was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.

Thomas Corkern Jr., of Pearblossom, driver of the Chevy Malibu, received no injuries, officials said.

Saturday's death follows a fatal crash Thursday that killed 19-year-old Ilene Hernandez Macias of Palmdale and injured at least three others.

Sheriff's officials said that Macias, who was driving a Honda Civic, failed to stop for a red light at 30th Street East and Avenue K and collided with a minivan, which struck two other vehicles.

Macias was thrown from her vehicle and died at the scene, officials said.