Baldwin Park Young Men Injured When Car Went Over a Cliff in Glendora

Four young men, including 3 from Baldwin Park, were hospitalized today after the car in which they were traveling went over a cliff on a mountain road near Glendora Wilderness Park, authorities said.

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The crash near milepost 6.2 on Glendora Mountain Road at the intersection with Big Dalton Canyon Road was reported at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman.

"When our firefighters arrived at the scene they found a car had gone over the cliff but the four people inside had already gotten themselves out of the vehicle,'' Pittman said.

"Our paramedics determined that two of the patients met the criteria of trauma patients and because of their serious injuries they were airlifted to a trauma center for treatment,'' he said. "The other two people were taken to Foothill Community Hospital by our ground units.''

The California Highway Patrol is "taking the lead in this investigation,'' CHP Officer Patrick Kimball said.

"Our officers found a Nissan Sentra over the side of the road at mile marker 6.2,'' Kimball said. "The patients were transported to the hospital by county firefighters, but the car won't be removed until later this morning.''

According to a preliminary CHP report, the 1996 Nissan Sentra was being driven by Carlos Avila, 19, of Baldwin Park, southbound on Glendora Mountain Road "at approximately 25-30 mph'' when "he realized that he was going too fast and applied the vehicle's brakes,'' the CHP reported.

"The front wheels locked up, he began to skid and was unable to safely negotiate the curvature of the roadway,'' the CHP reported.

Ejected were the right front passenger -- Jason Dominguez, 22, of Baldwin Park -- and the left rear passenger -- Luis Hernandez, 21, of Azusa.

They suffered head injuries, and were airlifted for hospital treatment. Their conditions were later upgraded from serious to "moderate.''

Avila and his right rear passenger -- Kevin Padilla, 19, of Baldwin Park -- got out of the car on their own. They suffered minor injuries. All four men walked up the hillside to Glendora Mountain Road and contacted authorities, the CHP reported.

Anyone with more information on how the accident happened was urged to call the CHP's Baldwin Park office at (626) 338-1168.