A late-night crash on Mount Baldy Road turned deadly Friday when a two-vehicle collision killed a 20-year-old man and injured six others, authorities said. The wreck was reported just before 9 p.m., and the narrow, winding mountain route was closed for hours while emergency crews worked the scene.
The Medical Examiner’s office later identified the man as 20-year-old Cole Renko, and six people were taken by ambulance to a hospital, according to MyNewsLA. Officials did not immediately release details on the severity of the injuries or Renko’s hometown, the outlet reported.
Sigalert and Response
The California Highway Patrol issued a Sigalert for the area at about 10 p.m., and the closure was lifted around 1:53 a.m. Saturday, according to the online CHP incident log. Notes in the CHP fatality feed show air units responding and traffic-control requests near Mountain Avenue and Shinn Road as crews worked to clear the scene. Investigators recorded the collision as a two-vehicle crash.
Mount Baldy Road Safety and Context
Mount Baldy Road is a narrow, scenic mountain route that has seen serious crashes in the past, and state records show recent repair and guardrail work following storm and wildfire damage. Documents from the California Transportation Commission list projects and emergency repairs on Mount Baldy Road aimed at restoring guardrails and roadway safety after earlier damage.
Investigation Ongoing
The CHP has not released a cause and said the crash remains under investigation. The coroner’s identification was reported through local media, and authorities or family members have not yet provided additional public details.
