Fatal Accident Halts Traffic in Rancho Penasquitos

Charges are pending for an 18-year-old driver

A fatal accident on westbound state Route 56 near Black Mountain Road halted traffic in Rancho Penasquitos Thursday morning.

The accident was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m. and involved two cars.

Timothy Barnette, 18, (pictured below right) was driving a Land Rover was traveling eastbound on SR-56 at an unknown speed when the driver drifted through the center media and struck a Scion in the farthest right-hand lane. Both vehicles then spun out onto an embankment, according to California Highway Patrol.

The 22-year-old man driving the Scion died. Barnette has major injuries, and is being treated at the hospital.

Officials shut down westbound 56 temporarily and officers had to divert traffic.

Authorities are withholding the name of the driver killed in the crash, pending his next-of-kin being notified.
   
Records show the Land Rover is registered to a couple who live nearby.

Charges are pending for Barnette, according to CHP, and his impairment is being investigated.

Two years ago on eastbound SR-56, one man was killed and another badly injured on the bike path when a car veered off the freeway, up the embankment, and crashed through the metal fencing.

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