Driver, 22, killed on I-15 Freeway in Hesperia may have been suicidal

HESPERIA, Calif. (VVNG.com) — The California Highway Patrol logs indicated the man who drove the wrong way down Interstate 15 causing a fatal head-on crash Saturday may have been suicidal.

The crash occurred Saturday just before 12 p.m. when witnesses say they saw a silver (Initially described as blue) Subaru enter the Oak Hill Road offramp the wrong way along the shoulder at a high-rate-of-speed before going head-on with a tanker truck.

According to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office, the driver of the Subaru was identified as Elijah Steven Avila-Mott, a 22-year-old resident of Diamond Bar.

“We saw him enter the exit and accelerate as soon as he hit the freeway,” stated Rebecca Vazquez.

Initial CHP logs indicated a friend of the Subaru driver contacted officials to warn that Avila-Mott was suicidal after an apparent breakup and that he had planned to drive to Hesperia to kill himself. Those notes were quickly removed from CHP logs, and officials have yet to comment on those details.

“I am the tanker drivers wife. To set everyone straight of their assumptions, The car that hit him was going the wrong way on the freeway and hit him head-on,” commented Lovey Martin. “He is doing ok, but unfortunately the driver of the Subaru didn’t make it. My prayers are with him and his family.”

The crash snarled traffic and delayed motorist by several hours.

All lanes of the 15 freeway were reopened shortly after 12 midnight. The California Highway is investigating.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

RELATED ARTICLE: One Dead in a crash involving tanker truck on 15 Freeway

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