PALMDALE : 1 Dead, 1 Injured in Head-On Freeway Crash

One motorist was killed and another injured Friday when a car crossed a dirt median divider and collided head-on with another auto on the Antelope Valley Freeway in Palmdale, the California Highway Patrol said.

A 42-year-old Arleta man traveling south on the freeway lost control of his Oldsmobile just south of the Pearblossom Highway exit about 5 p.m. and crossed the median into northbound traffic where he struck a Honda Civic, Officer Ruffel Galura said.

The driver of the Oldsmobile died later at Palmdale Medical Center, Officer Rick Chisham said.

The woman who was driving the Honda was taken to Holy Cross Medical Center, Galura said. Her condition was unavailable Friday evening, officials said. The accident closed the northbound lanes of the freeway for about an hour and clogged traffic for about five miles, Galura said.