Driver Killed, Passenger Seriously Injured in California Car Crash

Rosemead, CAAn 18-year-old driver was pronounced dead after a California car accident involving only one car.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">Jessica Lopez Rojas passed away after an early morning crash on eastbound Freeway 10, according to the Pasadena Sun-Times. Her 17-year-old passenger was also seriously injured in the car wreck, California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.

The passenger, who is from Azusa, California, suffered "deep lacerations" to his left forearm, according to police officials.

California Highway Patrol officials said that Lopez Rojas was driving her 1999 Honda Civic at an unknown speed when the vehicle drifted to the right side of the road and struck a steel barrier.

Police officials said that the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Lopez Rojas was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger was taken to Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,434 total traffic fatalities in California in 2008, more than anywhere else in the nation.