Accident Closes PCH Monday Evening

• Fatality at Puerco Canyon Is Still under Investigation

BY ANNE SOBLE

The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station issued a statement this week with the official specifics on a fatal traffic accident that closed westbound Pacific Coast Highway for over two hours on Monday night.
A Maryland man reportedly died at the scene when his rented 2009 Chevrolet SUV collided with a 1983 Mercedes-Benz driven by a 17-year-old Malibu High School student, whose name is not published because she is a minor.
The female driver, who resides in Malibu, was described as having made “a right turn in front of” Terry King, 50, on westbound PCH at Puerco Canyon Road at about 7:50 p.m.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Philip Brooks, the traffic liaison at Lost Hills, said the MHS student was driving in the number one lane and King was in the number two lane, when the girl turned onto Puerco, and the man’s vehicle collided with her car, causing the solo driver’s SUV to flip upside down and strike concrete-filled steel poles protecting a fire hydrant.
The impact resulted in major blunt force trauma to King, who was killed instantly.
The Lost Hills statement indicates that the teen was not cited or arrested at the scene. An investigation is underway to determine whether any charges will be filed.
A 17-year-old girl, also a Malibu High student, was a passenger in the Mercedes. The pair were reportedly on their way to what was described as a “party/movie” at a home belonging to entertainer and longtime local resident Cher that is located across Pacific Coast Highway from the crash site.
Brooks said neither of the girls appeared to have been injured.