Inland Empire Woman Injured in I-10 Crash Dies

BLYTHE, CA - A Perris woman injured in a crash on the 10 Freeway in Blythe died Saturday, authorities said.

Barbara Emard, 28, died at 1:22 p.m. at Desert Regional Medical Center, according to the Riverside County coroner's office.

Emard had pulled a 1998 Ford Expedition onto the shoulder of the eastbound 10 near Mesa Drive at about 11 p.m. last Monday, according to California Highway Patrol Officer K. Harrison. She was beginning to accelerate into the traffic lanes when the front tire of a 2006 Freightliner semi blew out and it veered to the right, slamming into the Expedition.

Emard was not wearing her seat belt, Harrison said. A 1-year-old girl in the car was in a child safety seat and suffered minor injuries.

Semi driver Curtis Pendegraf, 33, of Houston, Texas, was hospitalized with major injuries.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock