Law enforcement officials probe fatal crash

Lancaster man killed, woman airlifted to hospital in early-morning two-car collision in Saugus

A fiery fatal two-car crash killed a man and injured a woman in Saugus around 6:50 a.m.Tuesday morning, officials said.

The driver of a 2006 Kia Rio, who was identified only as a Lancaster man pending the Coroner’s Office procedures— was heading southbound, nearly a half-mile south of Dry Gulch Road, in the northbound lanes, attempting to pass traffic, according to a California Highway Patrol news release.

While attempting a passing maneuver, the driver of the Kia observed oncoming traffic and made an evasive turning movement to the right and traveled back onto the southbound lane and into the dirt right shoulder. However, the driver lost control of his Kia and traveled, out of control, back over the double yellow lines and into oncoming lanes where his vehicle collided head on with a white 2010 Lexus ES350 sedan, which injured the driver, who was airlifted to a hospital with moderate injuries.

The Kia Rio became engulfed in flames as a result of the crash, and the driver was declared dead at the scene by fire officials.

Sheriff and California Highway Patrol officials received reports this morning of an overturned vehicle on fire not far from the power plant on San Francisquito Canyon Road, about three-quarters of a mile north of Stater Lane, in the northbound lanes.

One car was on fire and another car was overturned when fire officials arrived on scene at 7:04 a.m, according to Inspector David Michel of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fatality marks the eighth death on Santa Clarita Valley roads this year.