LANCASTER, CA (December 1, 2025) — A man was killed and five people were injured in a four-vehicle crash early Sunday morning on the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway in Lancaster. The Medical Examiner’s office identified the deceased as 25-year-old George Avendano.
Accident Details: The California Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred at about 1 a.m. Sunday on the northbound freeway at 20th Street West. The collision involved four vehicles.
The five injured victims were all hospitalized, the CHP said. Their conditions were not immediately known. A Sigalert issued at 1:15 a.m. closing all northbound lanes of the freeway at 20th Street West was canceled at 5:51 a.m.
Investigation: The California Highway Patrol is investigating the multi-vehicle collision. Authorities have not released information about what caused the crash or how the four vehicles came to collide on the northbound freeway.
Legal Considerations: Multi-vehicle freeway crashes often result from chain reactions where one driver’s negligence triggers a series of collisions. Determining fault requires investigators to identify which driver’s actions initiated the crash sequence and whether subsequent drivers could have avoided involvement.
Late-night freeway crashes raise questions about visibility, speed, driver fatigue, and impairment. When one person is killed and five others injured in a four-vehicle collision, the force and complexity of the crash suggest serious negligence or dangerous driving conditions.
Avendano’s young age makes his death particularly tragic. At 25, he had his entire life ahead of him. His family faces decades of loss—milestones he’ll never reach, relationships he’ll never form, and contributions he’ll never make.
Wrongful death claims in multi-vehicle crashes can be complex when multiple parties share fault. California’s comparative negligence system allows damages to be apportioned among responsible parties based on their respective degrees of fault.
Families pursuing wrongful death claims seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs before death, lost future income and support, and the devastating emotional loss. When multiple people are injured in addition to the fatality, it demonstrates the widespread harm caused by the initial negligent act.
Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of George Avendano as they mourn this tragic loss.