Mother and Son from Artesia Identified in Fatal Head-On Crash in Northern Kern County

The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner has released the names and causes of death of the pair from Artesia who were killed in a head-on collision on State Route 14 in northern Kern County last week.

Tanner Scott Tom, 19, was killed at about 9:40 p.m. Thursday when the Mistubishi Eclipse he was driving north on State Route 14 crashed into a southbound car north of State Route 178, said California Highway Patrol Officer Ed Smith of the Mojave Area office.

Debra Lynn Tom, the driver's 47-year-old mother, was also killed in the crash. Both died at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, according to the CHP.

Coroner's Lt. Joe Bale said both victims died from blunt force injuries in the accident.

Smith said two other passengers in the Mitsubishi were critically injured: Angela Navejas, 19, a pregnant woman from Homeland in Riverside County and a 5-year-old boy, whose name was withheld. 

Smith said Navejas was pregnant, but "the baby did not survive.''

The boy was airlifted to Childrens Hospital in Fresno. 

Joel Yanez, 22, of Mammoth Lakes, was driving the other vehicle involved in the collision, a Toyota Camry. He too was critically injured in the accident, according to the CHP.

Smith said the driver of the Mitsubishi was heading north on SR 14 "when he entered the southbound lanes of State Route 14 (and) the Mitsubishi collided head-on with (the) southbound Toyota Camry.''

"The investigation indicates the northbound vehicle crossed over into the southbound lane possibly in an attempt to pass slower-moving vehicles,'' Smith said. "All occupants were wearing their seatbelts. The use of alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this collision.''

- City News Service contributed to this report.