Los Angeles County Deputy in Fatal Crash Didn’t Use Sirens

Authorities say a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who hit an SUV while responding to a call and killed two passengers didn’t have his lights and sirens on.

California Highway Patrol Officer Gil Hernandez says the deputy was driving in Palmdale and T-boned a 1994 Ford Explorer driving north into an intersection Saturday afternoon. Two backseat passengers, 31-year-old Robert Delgadillo of Palmdale and 20-year-old Sara M. Paynter of Van Nuys, weren’t wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle as it spun. They died at the scene.

The SUV driver, 22-year-old Genaro Vasquez and his passenger 19-year-old Jaime Espinoza, were wearing seatbelts and suffered minor injuries.

The deputy was transported to a hospital with moderate injuries.

Hernandez said not all calls require lights and sirens.

The incident remains under investigation.