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May 10
1877 - Newhall School District formed, upon petition of J.F. Powell and 47 others [story]
Newhall School kids


Scene of Friday night's fatal collision on San Francisquito Canyon Road. Photo by Elliott Cohen / SCVNews.com

A deadly weekend on Santa Clarita Valley roads finished with four traffic fatalities, two involving motorcycles.

According to the Newhall Division of the California Highway Patrol Dean M. Lalley, 42, of Saugus was driving his 1995 Kawasaki ZX900 motorcycle northbound on San Francisquito Canyon Road on Friday night, south of Lowridge Place, at a speed greater than 55 mph.

Officials say Linda J. Spunt, 52, of Saugus was driving her 2003 Toyota Sequoia southbound on San Francisquito Road at 40 mph when Lalley crossed the double yellow lines and directly into Spunt’s lane. The collision resulted in Lalley being ejected off his motorcycle, striking Spunt’s vehicle before landing on the dirt shoulder.

Lalley’s injuries were fatal. Spunt was uninjured. According to officials the collision is still under investigation; however, alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor.

A second fatality involving a motorcycle occurred at 12:45 a.m. Saturday when Daniel Ernesto Diaz, 25, of Valencia lost control of his Suzuki GSR near Osage Ridge Road and Mulberry Glen Drive in Saugus. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies say the driver struck a mailbox and then the curb resulting in fatal injuries. The road was described as quiet and uphill. Excessive speed was suspected in the accident since the victim was “fighting gravity” to reach the speed necessary before he lost control.

The last of the fatalities was the result of a head-on collision which occurred at 8:20 Sunday morning on Highway 14 north of the Red Rover Mine exit.

The Antelope Valley Division of the California Highway Patrol reports Carolyn A. Ormston, 57, of Palmdale was traveling southbound on Highway 14 when she for an “undetermined reason” made a turning movement to the left, traveled across the east roadway edge of the southbound Highway 14 and onto the dirt median. Ormston then crossed into the northbound land of Highway 14 causing a head-on collision with the driver of a 2008 Dodge, Ruben James Nieto, Jr., 39, of San Jacinto.

Nieto sustained fatal injuries and succumbed at the scene. Ormston was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital where she died of her injuries.

A female passenger in Ormston’s car, Billie R. Casey, 51, of Los Angeles, suffered major head trauma and was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital.

A male passenger in Nieto’s car, Donald F. Cook, 50, of Rialto, had moderate injuries and was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital.

The traffic incident is under investigation.

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1 Comment

  1. Michael says:

    Why is it not being made public that the huge pothole in the curve of the road that everyone tries to avoid is the cause of Dean Lalley’s death? Seems like the city is trying to cover that part of the story up to avoid trouble. RIP Dean. Bailey is going to make you so proud man!

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SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, May 10, 2024
May 18: SCV Sanitation District Wastewater Rate Increase Meeting
The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District is seeking to raise rates to pay for the additional operations and maintenance costs of the new state-mandated Advanced Water Treatment Facility in Valencia and aging infrastructure improvements. The third Informational Meeting about the proposed increases is set for Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m. at Sulphur Springs Community School, 16628 Lost Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91387.
Friday, May 10, 2024
May 18: NextGen MediaMakers Festival Honors Young Creatives
The Santa Clarita Valley Media Collaborative invites the public as well as local creatives, media industry professionals, students, parents, teachers and others to celebrate the next generation of media makers participating in the inaugural NextGen MediaMakers Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center.
Friday, May 10, 2024
May 13: Lane, Road Closures for Copper Hill Bridge Project
Starting Monday, May 13, crews will begin construction to widen the Copper Hill Bridge located at Copper Hill Drive over the San Francisquito Creek between McBean Parkway and Avenida Rancho Tesoro.
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Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District is seeking to raise rates to pay for the additional operations and maintenance costs of the new state-mandated Advanced Water Treatment Facility in Valencia and aging infrastructure improvements. The third Informational Meeting about the proposed increases is set for Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m. at Sulphur Springs Community School, 16628 Lost Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91387.
May 18: SCV Sanitation District Wastewater Rate Increase Meeting
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, May 15, beginning with a closed session at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by open session at 7 p.m.
May 15: Hart School Board Regular Meeting
The Santa Clarita Valley Media Collaborative invites the public as well as local creatives, media industry professionals, students, parents, teachers and others to celebrate the next generation of media makers participating in the inaugural NextGen MediaMakers Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center.
May 18: NextGen MediaMakers Festival Honors Young Creatives
Starting Monday, May 13, crews will begin construction to widen the Copper Hill Bridge located at Copper Hill Drive over the San Francisquito Creek between McBean Parkway and Avenida Rancho Tesoro.
May 13: Lane, Road Closures for Copper Hill Bridge Project
Santa Clarita’s Olive Branch Theatricals will offer a production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” July 6 - 21.
July 6-21: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’
A presentation and tour will be held Saturday, May 18, 1-3 p.m. at the Rancho Camulos Museum Marie Wren Library and Archives to highlight the Del Valle/Rubel collection’s new archival system.
May 18: Rancho Camulos Archives Tour, Presentation
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. Prior to the public session the council will meet in closed session for a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
May 14: Council to Consider Roads, Bridge Maintenance, Animal Control Contracts
The Academy at Method Schools has announced the launch of its innovative online independent study dual enrollment charter school in partnership with College of the Canyons.
Academy at Method Charter Offers Dual COC Enrollment
Hop on your bicycle, get to pedaling and explore the city of Santa Clarita’s sprawling bike trail network during the 2024 “Hit the Trail” Community Bike Ride on Saturday, May 18, from 8 a.m. to noon.
May 18: Gear Up, ‘Hit the Trail’ Free Cycling Event
The 2022-2023 Valencia High School Jazz Choir Two 'n Four has been named the 2024 Winner High School Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble in the 47th Annual Downbeat Magazine Music Awards.
Valencia High Jazz Choir Captures ‘DownBeat’ Award
The MAIN in Old Town Newhall will host “A Night of Narrative Song: A Music Tribute to the 80th Anniversary of D-Day” on Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
June 6: Music Tribute to 80th Anniversary of D-Day
1877 - Newhall School District formed, upon petition of J.F. Powell and 47 others [story]
Newhall School kids
The William S. Hart Union High School District is thrilled to announce that Caitlyn Park, a senior at Saugus High School, has been named a 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Saugus High’s Caitlyn Park Named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar
As spring blooms, it brings with it a renewed sense of opportunity to embrace the fresh air and physical activity that comes with the season.
Marsha McLean | Igniting Change with Bike to Work Challenge
SCV Water, in partnership with the Association of California Water Agencies, is proud to announce that the 2024 Edward G. “Jerry” Gladbach Scholarship has been awarded to California State University, San Marcos student Krisha Pedraza.
SCV Water Announces 2024 Gladbach Scholarship Recipient
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation announced Thursday the recipients of 100 microgrants awarded to community leaders in Los Angeles County, including four from Santa Clarita, to fund initiatives that uplift their neighborhoods.
SCV Community Leaders Awarded Nextdoor Foundation Microgrants
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency’s Public Outreach and Legislation Committee is holding an in-person meeting Thursday, May 16, at 5:30 p.m.
May 16: SCV Water Public Outreach, Legislation Committee Meeting
The city of Santa Clarita announced all parking lots at Central Park will be closed Friday, May 10, due to the Boots in the Park Country Music Festival.
May 10: Central Park Parking Lots to Close for Country Music Festival
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released its fifth annual report on mortality among people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
L.A. County Homeless Mortality Rate Plateaus
Students enrolling in the College of the Canyons Fall 2024 semester will notice a new course type featured in the class schedule: Focused Classes.  
COC Launching Eight-Week Focused Classes
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies Shane Seacord, Grant Roth and Sergeant Eric Lee of LASD Emergency Services Detail, Air Rescue 5 crew received the California State Medal of Valor award Wednesday.
LASD Deputies Receive State’s Medal of Valor
May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is encouraging everyone to get active and safely take bike rides while at the same time reminding drivers to be on the lookout for more people biking and walking.
Share the Road During Bicycle Safety Month
1990 - Gene Autry's elderly horse, Champion, put to sleep; buried at Melody Ranch [story]
Champion
SCVNews.com