Six killed in wrong-way crash on 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar

Police arrested a new mother on suspicion of manslaughter and drunken driving Sunday morning after a horrific wrong-way collision on the 60 Freeway left six people dead.

Five women and one man died in the 5 a.m. head-on accident between a red Chevy Camaro and a Ford Explorer, California Highway Patrol officials said. The incident occurred in the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, just west of Phillips Ranch Road. At least one “tall boy” style beer can was discovered at the scene.

Olivia Carolee Culbreath, 21, of Fontana was arrested. The dead, who were not identified, included a 24-year-old Chino woman a 24-year-old Rialto woman, officials said.
“There was alcoholic beverage evidence,” CHP officer Rodrigo Jimenez said. “We’re treating this as a crime scene.”
At least two people were thrown onto the freeway in the collision, he added. The driver and lone occupant in a third vehicle — described as a Ford Freestyle — also suffered minor injuries, officials said.
It was uncertain how many passengers were in either car.
“It’s a horrific accident. Our hearts go out the family members and friends of the victims,” Jimenez said as he gestured toward an unrecognizable tangle of metal about 100 yards away.

Culbreath was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where she was treated for injuries she suffered in the crash. She was wheeled from a recovery room to a lock-up in the hospital and appeared to be on a respirator and under sedation Sunday afternoon. CHP officials planned to interview Culbreath when she regained consciousness.
No family visited the woman. A CHP officer was posted at Culbreath’s bedside.

Wendell Johnson of Rancho Cucamonga, a friend, said the group in Culbreath’s car had been on a “girls’ night out” in “Downtown Fullerton.” He found out about the “horrible” accident reading his Twitter feed Sunday morning.
“It’s the worst way to learn something like this,” he said. “This is just horrible.”Johnson posted several heartfelt updates to Twitter throughout the afternoon.“RIP to my big sis ... I known you for like 10 years...” read one.Another said, “RIP to my sis ... man I can’t believe this.”Although not related, Johnson said he was very close to two of the dead women.
“It was like we were blood,” he said. “I’ve known them for like a long time.”
He said he saw the women last week and planned to visit Culbreath at home Sunday.
“She just had a baby. I was supposed to go see her.”Social media accounts linked to Culbreath indicated she gave birth to a child in late-January.One witness at the scene described seeing a 24-oz. beer can in the front seat area of the Camaro, as well as a tassel similar to those worn during school graduations.
Minutes before the crash, officials began receiving reports that a car was heading north in the southbound lanes of the 57 Freeway, then east in the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, according to CHP officials and logs. Witnesses reported the car was travelling at high speed, with estimates ranging from 70 mph to more than 100 mph.
“About 4:40 a.m. we received numerous phone calls of a wrong-way driver,” Jimenez said. “Eventually that Camaro ended up crashing.”
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Melanie Flores said. Three people were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. A rescue helicopter was landed on the freeway.
Two of the badly injured succumbed to their injuries at the UC Irvine Medical Center, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s officials said.
Investigators examined the scene for hours and set at least 45 numbered evidence marker cards amid the wreckage.
All westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway at Phillips Ranch Road between the 71 Freeway and Diamond Bar Boulevard, as well as the westbound Phillips Ranch Road onramp, were shut down for eight hours following the crash.