2 Film Workers Die as Pickup Hits Van

A Van Nuys woman and a Los Angeles man headed for work on a desert film set were killed Wednesday when a pickup truck sped through a stop sign near Palmdale and struck their van broadside, the California Highway Patrol reported.

A Lancaster mother and daughter who were in the pickup were injured.

The 62-year-old man and the 43-year-old woman, whose names were not released pending notification of their families, were driving to the nearby set of “Radio Flyer” when they were hit about 7:15 a.m., CHP Officer Mike Reis said.

Louvenia Donaldson, 40, of was in serious condition at Palmdale Medical Center, and her daughter, Theresa, 16, was in stable condition, officials said.

The accident occurred at 110th Street East and Palmdale Boulevard, where wooden signs stand as memorials to the victim of a fatal accident in July.

The two movie workers were heading east on Palmdale Boulevard, Reis said. As they passed through the intersection, their van was struck by the southbound pickup carrying the Donaldsons, which failed to halt for a stop sign, he said. Reis said the pickup’s speedometer stuck at 65 m.p.h., and the impact pushed the van into the brush, where it overturned.

Other film employees identified the victims. They said the production was on its last day at the Palmdale Boulevard location.