Four people killed in head-on accident on Hwy. 14 near Red Rock Canyon State Park

MOJAVE – Four people were killed in an apparent two vehicle accident that occurred on the evening of December 29th just north of Redrock Inyokern Road on northbound Highway 14; the incident occurred at approximately 8:41pm.

 

According to the Mojave area CHP, a Mercedes was traveling southbound when it crossed over into the northbound lanes to pass another vehicle. The Mercedes collided head on with a Jeep that was traveling in the southbound lanes; both vehicles went off the roadway approximately 100 feet and landed in a ditch just north of Red Rock Canyon State Park. Kern County Fire Station 14 and Hall Ambulance out of Mojave responded to the scene and determined that the 61-year-old driver of the Mercedes and a passenger were killed along with the 23-year-old driver and 27-year-old passenger in the Jeep. Another unidentified 24-year-old passenger in the Jeep was the only survivor and was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster with serious injuries; none of the victims were from Kern County.

 

The driver of the Jeep was later identified as Taylor Camille Romine of Huntington Beach. The passenger of the Jeep was identified as Rami Abdulrazak of Yorba Linda. The passenger of the Mercedes was identified as Ronald Eric Dene of Los Angeles. The driver of the Mercedes was identified as Gregg Ray Sauer of Lancaster.

 

The southbound lanes were at full closure and the northbound lanes were used to divert southbound traffic around the accident at the Dove Springs entrance to the highway.

 

The Kern County Coroner’s Office was called out to the scene to remove the victims and their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

 

The CHP is still investigating the cause of the accident and at this time, it’s unclear whether alcohol or drugs played a part; they also want to thank the people who stopped and tried to help and are also advising drivers to use caution especially during holiday travel. If anyone has any information into the cause of the accident, please, contact the Mojave area CHP at 1-661-823-5500.