Driver Arrested After Wrong-Way Fatal Crash in Apple Valley

APPLE VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 24 (KNN) — Two vehicles collided head-on, involving at least one fatality, and a driver was taken into custody by authorities at the scene.

The crash was reported shortly after 8 p.m., Monday, on Westbound Highway 18, just East of Quinnault Road in the Town of Apple Valley.

Deputies with the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station and rescue personnel with the Apple Valley Fire Protection District responded to the scene. They located two vehicles that collided head-on with one another, both with major damage.

Shortly after arrival, at least one person was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel, and deputies arrested the driver of a blue SUV involved in the collision. Witnesses at the scene claimed the arrested male subject was slurring his speech when being helped by good Samaritans.

As a result of the crash, a hard closure was put into place for Westbound Highway 18 lanes of travel from Central Road to Quinnault Road for the duration of the incident.

The reason(s) for the SUV driver’s arrest has yet to be disclosed, and identification of the victim(s) killed in the collision has not been released pending next of kin notification.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station Major Accident Investigation Team.

Alex Gomez-Madrigal, Video Journalist / KNN