TWO FATAL CRASHES MAR HIGHWAY VEHICLES HIT HEAD-ON WHEN BIG-RIGS GO OUT OF CONTROL, CROSS CENTER LINE.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Two motorists died Friday on Pearblossom Highway, only minutes apart and in separate collisions blamed on big-rig drivers swerving across the center line in trying to avoid traffic slowing in front of them.

The first crash occurred at 6:15 a.m. in heavy commuter traffic just east of Sierra Highway and the second about a half-mile away as traffic heading the other way came to a halt because of the blocked highway.

``We don't know if he just wasn't paying attention or if the car in front of him slammed on his brakes and he was just following too closely,'' California Highway Patrol Officer Rusty Moore said of the first crash. ``It's all still under investigation.''

Killed in the crashes were Gregorio Frias, 20, of Palmdale and a second motorist whose name was not immediately released.

CHP officials who specialize in big-rig crashes were called in to investigate.

The first crash occurred when an eastbound hopper truck skidded, swerved onto the dirt shoulder, then went across the center line and hit an oncoming Chevrolet Camaro, which was pushed into the path of a second big rig and was crushed.

When traffic coming the other way stopped for the crash, a second big- rig tractor - this one traveling without a trailer - swerved across the center line and hit a Ford Ranger pickup truck head-on, running it over and crushing it.

``He sees there's heavy traffic that's stopped and he swerved into the eastbound lanes, hitting the Ford Ranger head-on,'' Moore said. ``He basically just ran over the Ranger like the other truck did the Camaro.''

The stretch of Pearblossom Highway where the crashes occurred is a four- lane road with a speed limit of 55 mph and no center divider. It usually is busy with commuters and truck traffic.

Friday's deaths brought to five the number of motorists killed in the 2 1/2 miles of highway east of the Antelope Valley Freeway in the past year. That stretch is patrolled by both CHP officers and sheriff's deputies, since part lies inside Palmdale city limits.

In two of the earlier fatal crashes, vehicles inexplicably veered over the center line. In the third, a car drifted onto the dirt shoulder, hit a road sign, then swerved back across the highway and overturned in a ditch.

Prior to 2001, the most recent fatal crash had been in October 1999, when a motorist swerved across the center line when traffic slowed in front of him.

``Anytime you have 55 or 60 mph speed limits and they hit, you're going to have fatalities. That area is a major thoroughfare but I wouldn't say there are any more problems there than (on) any other roadways,'' said sheriff's Deputy Mike Redding.

``That's a pretty busy roadway each day with commuters but it's not a problem area,'' the CHP's Moore said.

Pearblossom Highway was expected to be closed to traffic between Sierra Highway and Barrel Springs Road most of Friday while officers conducted their investigation.

The big-rig driver blamed in the first crash was identified as Arturo Ramos, 41, of La Puente. His big rig was pulling ``bottom dump'' hopper trailers.

The big-rig and trailers came to a halt sideways across all four lanes of the highway. The Camaro hit by the second big rig, which was hauling metal pipes, was crushed to an unrecognizable chunk of metal.

A passenger in the Camaro, Jeff Reina, 19, suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Antelope Valley Hospital where he was treated and released.

A 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck traveling behind the big rig that ran over the Camaro also hit the hopper truck. Pickup driver Douglas Herzer, 48, of Littlerock was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital with minor injuries, treated and released.

The big-rig driver involved in the second crash was identified as George Huston, 65, of Phelan. He suffered minor cuts to his leg but was treated at the scene and released, CHP officials said. The driver of a Chevrolet Camaro, in foreground, was killed in an early morning crash Friday on Pearblossom Highway.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) The driver of a Chevrolet Camaro, in foreground, was killed in an early morning crash Friday on Pearblossom Highway.

(2 -- color) A hopper truck that hit an oncoming Camaro head on Friday morning blocks Pearblossom Highway's four lanes.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Map:

DEADLY HIGHWAY