CHP Reveals Details Of Multiple-Car Accident In Baldwin Park

A brief distraction may have caused a three-vehicle crash that injured eight people and shut down Interstate 10 on Thursday afternoon.

According to Kerri Rivas, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol in Baldwin Park, the incident happened at 6:14 p.m., east of the Puente Avenue exit, near Walmart.

Officials say 34-year-old Miguel Velázquez, of Bloomington, was traveling westbound on I-10 in a Chevy Impala at 65 miles per hour.

Velázquez had glanced down at his son Jake who was sleeping on the front passenger seat and was trying to reposition him when he realized that a Lexus SUV, driven by 44-year-old Jennifer Calbaquito, of Los Angeles, had stopped in front of him, Rivas said.

Velázquez tried unsuccessfully to avoid hitting the SUV by swerving to the right but still collided. The vehicle veered to the left, hit the center divider and overturned onto a the back of a Toyota Corolla driven by Sabino Salmeron, 56, of La Puente, according to CHP officials.

All three drivers reported being injured. Jake Velasquez, 6, who was in the front seat of the Impala had not been properly restrained, officials said. Velázquez's had four other youngsters, Manuel Velasquez, 15, Miguel Velasquez Jr., 15, Malia Velasquez, 10, and Joey Lopez, 14, in his vehicle. None were wearing seat belts and all suffered major to moderate injuries, CHP officials said.

Helicopters transported two of the injured to hospitals. The rest were taken in ambulances.

CHP shut down the freeway for about 20 minutes.

Any witnesses to this collision are encouraged to contact the Baldwin Park Area office during normal business hours at (626) 338-1164 or after hours through the Los Angeles Communications Center at (323) 982-4900.