A California man has been arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment after a multi-vehicle crash on Christmas Day left two minors dead.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) told KTLA and Bakersfield Now that the collision happened on Interstate 5 in Lebec—northern Los Angeles County—just before 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25. Authorities said a gold Toyota RAV4 was stopped in the center median of the northbound lanes, south of Vista Del Lago Road, with the driver waiting alongside a family member.
CHP said a blue Nissan Rogue traveling northbound struck the Toyota after the Nissan’s driver lost control. The Nissan was carrying two adults and six minors, according to investigators. During the impact, three minors were ejected from the vehicle. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, two children were pronounced dead at the scene, CHP said.
The Nissan’s driver, identified by CHP as Jorge Preciado, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of felony child endangerment. He was later booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station in Santa Clarita, according to the outlets. The victims’ ages and identities were not released.
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Officials said the cause of the Nissan driver’s loss of control remains under investigation.
“Today’s loss of two young lives is heartbreaking,” CHP Captain Purvis said in a statement to the outlets. “Our thoughts are with the families of those involved in this tragedy. This is an important reminder that child safety seats are of utmost importance in providing safety on the roadway.”
The crash came amid severe weather across Southern California in the days leading up to Christmas. The Guardian reported that some parts of Los Angeles County recorded more than 11 inches of rain on Wednesday night, Dec. 24, and the National Weather Service warned of potential flash flooding in areas impacted by earlier 2025 fires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a Declaration of Local Emergency on Dec. 24 as officials cautioned drivers about hazardous conditions in parts of northern Los Angeles County. That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles County and other Southern California counties, citing flooding and landslide risks tied to the extreme weather.
NBC News reported that at least four people across California died in weather-related incidents, including a fatal crash in South Sacramento and the death of a 61-year-old man in San Diego after a large section of a tree fell on him amid heavy winds.
