SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA) — A 6-year-old girl and her 2-year-old sister died after a crash Monday in which the girls’ mother was apparently driving nude.
The crash was reported just before 10 a.m. near Old Road and Pico Canyon in Stevenson Ranch, according to California Highway Patrol.
Both victims were transported to a nearby hospital, where the 6-year-old died a short time later and the 2-year-old Wednesday afternoon. The driver was also hurt but was in stable condition.
A representative of the Newhall office confirmed the younger girl’s death Wednesday. Her sister, who died Monday, was identified by the coroner’s office as Kathleen Lopez.
According to reports from the scene, the car had been involved in multiple crashes before it came to a stop, crashing into a tree near the intersection. As soon as she hit the tree, the car caught on fire.
Witness Jerry Jordan asked for a knife as he helped cut the girls free from the vehicle’s seat belts when he noticed the woman in the driver’s seat wasn’t wearing any clothing.
“I did notice that when I opened both doors she was bloody, head to toe, and naked,” said Jordan.
Despite the tragic loss, authorities say the outcome could have been much worse.
An employee from a nearby Jiffy Lube was among ten or so Good Samaritans who responded to the scene to help.
Another witness, Mark Murrillo, was among those first to arrive on the scene and shot video footage of the car on fire.
From Mark Murillo: car on fire w woman & 2 kids inside. [email protected]& others helped them. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/DWjeLx8TAQ
— Greg Mills (@GregMillsTVNews) November 18, 2019
Traffic was diverted as CHP investigated the crash.
