Palmdale Woman Dies in Head-On Collision

A Palmdale woman died and four people were injured in a head-on collision apparently caused by a drunk driver veering across an Antelope Valley road, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday.

Rosa Murray, 43, was pronounced dead Tuesday night at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, where she had been airlifted after suffering massive head injuries about 7:30 p.m. when a pickup truck struck the car in which she was riding on Fort Tejon Road near 47th Street East, Detective Dave Davidson said.

The pickup’s driver, Steven Perkins, 38, of Palmdale, was in serious condition Wednesday at Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center, Davidson said. Perkins was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and will be transferred to the custody of the Sheriff’s Department when his health permits, Davidson said.

Perkins was driving south on Fort Tejon Road “erratically and at an excessive rate of speed” when he lost control, crossed the median strip and collided with a car containing Murray and three others, Davidson said. The truck then smashed into a light pole and burst into flames, Davidson said. Perkins was rescued by a passerby.

The car’s driver, Rafael Medina, 21, of Palmdale, was airlifted to Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills for treatment and was later released, Davidson said. His wife, Linda, 21, and 5-month-old son, Johnny, were treated at Palmdale Medical Center for minor injuries and released, authorities said.