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Littlerock man arrested in fatal crash

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A man was killed the morning of Aug. 13 in a fiery crash involving two vehicles on the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway near Santa Clarita, and the second driver, a Littlerock man, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, authorities said.

The crash happened around 5:25 a.m. on the northbound 14 Freeway, north of Soledad Canyon Road, and involved a 2004 Toyota Matrix and a 2007 Toyota Corolla.

According to a California Highway Patrol report, 25-year-old Joe Lopez of Littlerock was driving the 2004 Toyota Matrix northbound on the 14 Freeway in the number-4 lane; and a second driver was parked in a 2007 Toyota Corolla on the right shoulder, along the 14 Freeway, north of Soledad Canyon Road.

Lopez’s car drifted over onto the right shoulder and slammed into the rear of the Toyota Corolla, the CHP report states.

The Corolla caught on fire, and the driver inside suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, officials said. He was listed as “John Doe,” coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said.

“He was burned so we have to figure out who he is … We’ll see if there are dental records available, after we get ahold of the family,” Winter said.

It’s unknown if Lopez was injured. However, he was arrested at the scene, according to the CHP report. And “alcohol and/or drugs are suspected to be a factor in this collision,” CHP officials said in the report.

Anyone with information on the fatal  crash is encouraged to call the CHP office in Newhall at (661) 294-5540.

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