An on-duty deputy caused a fatal crash when he rear-ended a car on Air Expressway in Victorville. (Photo: Victorville Daily Press)

Fatal car accident: A 38-year-old woman was killed Sunday — and four others were injured – when a deputy in a patrol car plowed into her vehicle on Air Expressway in Victorville.

•   A deputy in a patrol car was transporting a juvenile to a detention center when he rear-ended a Honda Accord.

•   The impact forced the Honda into oncoming traffic, where it crashed into a Mercedes. 

•   A passenger in the Honda was killed. Her son was hospitalized with serious injuries. 

•   The Honda and Mercedes drivers and the juvenile prisoner were taken to hospitals to be treated for minor injuries.

The deadly accident occurred at around 8 p.m., according to a report in the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputy was traveling eastbound on Air Expressway, transporting a juvenile prisoner to the High Desert Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center in Apple Valley.

The patrol car slammed into the rear of a Honda Accord between George Boulevard and Phantom East, Sheriff’s Department officials told  the Victorville Daily Press.

The Accord was driven by Immysha Smith of Adelanto. According to a friend, Smith was driving at a speed of about 50 mph when she looked in her rear-view mirror and saw headlights approaching at a high rate of speed. She thought the car would slow down, but it did not.

The rear-end impact pushed the Honda across the center line and into oncoming traffic, where it crashed into a westbound Mercedes driven by a woman identified as Jennifer Tompkins.

The passenger in the front seat of the Honda, 38-year-old Vanessa Rosales of Adelanto, suffered severe injuries and was as taken to Victor Valley Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than 45 minutes later.

Rosales’ son was riding in the back seat of the Honda. He was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center to be treated for moderate injuries, according to the accident report. He remained hospitalized as of Tuesday.

Both Smith and Tompkins suffered minor injuries. Smith was taken to Victor Valley Community Hospital and Tompkins was taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley.

The deputy was treated at the scene, but his juvenile prisoner was taken to St. Mary Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries.

The Sheriff’s Department did not release the name of the deputy. Officials closed the road all night and well into Monday afternoon while investigators cleared the accident and performed a 3D laser scan of the scene.

The accident remains under investigation. The Sheriff’s Department Apple Valley station is urging witnesses to contact Sgt. Rod MacDonald, Deputy Bryan Zierdt or Deputy Jason Grantham at (760) 240-7400.

Victorville Car Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented car accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.