Lancaster Pastor Killed in Freeway Crash
A local Lancaster, Calif. pastor died yesterday after colliding with a drunk driver on 14 Freeway in Acton.
77-year old Dr. Manard Giles was driving when an intoxicated person going the wrong way plowed directly into his car, killing him, according to California Highway Patrol. The driver, Bradford Pate of Burbank, collided with the minister while behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra going south onto the northbound lanes.
The truck hit into Gile's Chrysler 300 head-on. The pastor was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Pate is now being held by authorities under suspicion of driving under the influence.
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Giles pastored The Answer Community Church of God in Christ in Lancaster. Authorities claim Giles was on his way back from a church function in San Diego with two other people who were injured in the accident. One of the passengers was a 47-year old man who was airlifted from the scene and taken to an area hospital. He is now in critical condition. The other passenger was an unidentified woman who sustained serious injuries.
A similar incident happened last Monday when another driver traveled the wrong way on 14 Freeway in Aqua Dulce, causing a multi-car pile-up. Officials claim drugs and alcohol were a factor in that incident as well.
