Crash leaves one dead and three injured

Paul Clinton

A 20-year-old Long Beach resident died shortly after midnight

Saturday, when he drove head-on into oncoming traffic on Springdale

Street.

Matthew Rhoten slammed his 1987 Toyota pickup truck into a car

carrying three teenagers, who were all seriously injured in the wreck.

Rhoten was heading southbound on Springdale, when the accident

occurred at 12:26 a.m. Sunday. Rhoten’s truck crashed into a 1997 Dodge

Stratus, which was carrying the teens.

After the crash, 19-year-old Victor Shaw from Wildomar in Riverside

County, was pulled from his car, which had been engulfed in flames.

Huntington Beach firefighters extracted Shaw, who fractured both legs. He

was transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was

treated.

Shaw’s two passengers were also taken to nearby hospitals and treated

for major injuries. Thomas Penaflor, 19, was taken to UC Irvine with head

trauma. Brent Horton, 18, headed to Long Beach Memorial Hospital for

internal injuries. Penaflor and Horton both live in Buena Park.

It was not immediately known how fast the cars were traveling or what

caused the accident. Huntington Beach police said they did not know if

alcohol played a role in the crash.

“We’re not sure at this point,” Sgt. Gary Meza said. “It will be

determined by the investigation.”