A motorist who was killed in a crash that closed a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu earlier this week may have suffered a medical emergency before the collision, authorities said Thursday.
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The crash, which was reported at 2 p.m. Tuesday and closed the coastal highway between Paradise Cove Road and West Winding Way for several hours, involved a gray Honda Civic and a white van, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Malibu-Lost Hills Station.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner's office identified the fatally injured man as 60-year-old Derek Schimming.
"Preliminary investigation indicates Party #1 was traveling southbound on Pacific Coast Highway in a gray 2008 Honda Civic nearing the intersection of West Winding Way when he possibly suffered from a medical emergency," the sheriff's station said in a statement.
"Multiple witnesses stated Party #1 abruptly veered into oncoming northbound traffic and struck Party #2 who was traveling northbound in a white 2012 Ford E-250 van," the statement said. "Witnesses and emergency medical personnel attempted to revive the Party #1 but were unsuccessful and Party #1 was determined deceased at the scene. Party #2 was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries."
It was the latest in a series of deadly crashes on PCH, and occurred one week after state and local officials gathered along the roadway to tout safety improvements being made along the roadway and announce the start of a public safety outreach campaign.
"It is with heavy hearts that the city of Malibu marks another fatal traffic collision on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on May 14," according to a statement released by the city Wednesday. "Malibu sends its condolences to all those impacted by this tragedy. Every life lost is one too many. Improving PCH safety remains a top priority for the city, and we continue to work with our legislative partners, law enforcement, state partner agencies, and the community to find solutions. The city urges all users of PCH to be part of the effort: slow down, drive safely and help save lives."
Officials noted at last week's event that between 2010 and 2024, 59 people have been killed along the Malibu portion of PCH, with speed the most common contributing factor in those deaths. Authorities said there were 220 crashes on PCH between Ventura County and the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica last year, killing seven people.
Among the safety measures being implemented along the highway are the addition of three full-time California Highway Patrol officers and a part-time sergeant in the 21-mile PCH corridor to step up enforcement. Other improvements include speed limit markings on the road, safety corridor signs, digital "speed feedback" signs, curve warnings and pedestrian signal upgrades.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at 818-878-1808 and speak with the Traffic Investigations Office. Tipsters should reference report #24-02224-10.
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