BARSTOW – Drunk driving was the suspected cause of the collision that killed a 23-year-old woman on the 15 freeway on Thursday evening authorities said.
At around 7:00 p.m. the woman, whose name has not yet been released was the passenger of a Honda that was driving northbound on the I-15 freeway. As they approached E. Main Street they noticed a stalled vehicle that was still in the fast lane. Concerned for the safety of others; both driving and in the van, the male driver with his two passengers, pulled over to assist them in pushing the vehicle out of the lanes of traffic.
While the Honda and the disabled vehicles were both in the road with the hazard lights on, according to CHP officials, a green Dodge Dakota approached, hit the Honda, the three occupants of the Honda, and then the stalled van. The woman ended up under the truck. She was removed and was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Hospital for treatment but subsequently died as a result of her injuries. A second occupant of the Honda was also airlifted for serious injuries. Both the driver of the Honda and the driver of the pickup truck sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision.
The driver of the Dodge, later identified as John Irick, 56, of Fresno, was booked into jail for driving under the influence causing injury and for a no-bail warrant out of Kern County for driving on a suspended license from a prior DUI. He is being held in lieu of $125,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the Victorville Superior Court on Monday, December 18, 2017.
