Helendale Woman Killed in Collision Involving Driver Talking on Cell Phone

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BARSTOW – The life of a 57-year-old Helendale woman was taken due to distracted driving on Tuesday afternoon officials said.

At around 1:00 p.m. the California Highway Patrol responded to the 27500 block of Highway 58 in Barstow for the report of a traffic collision. When they arrived they located the Toyota Tacoma truck and a Chevrolet Tahoe.

The Tacoma was occupied by Wanda Iris Romero, 57, of Helendale, and her husband, who was driving westbound on old Highway 58 at approximately 60 miles per hour. The Tahoe was occupied by a 27-year-old woman, and her two children, 7 and 9-years-old. The driver of the Tahoe slowed to make a left turn into the driveway of a home located at 25796 old SR-58. As she talked on the cell phone while also distracted by her children she proceeded with her left turn directly into the path of the Tacoma.

The Tahoe attempted to avoid the crash to no avail, the Tacoma slammed into the right front of the Tahoe causing Romero to become trapped in the truck. Romero was extricated from the vehicle and transported by ground ambulance to Barstow Community Hospital in preparation to be airlifted to a trauma center, but she was pronounced dead at 2:24 p.m. prior to being airlifted. Alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the collision.