The principal of Baldwin Park High and a woman who was a Redlands resident died in a traffic collision on the 10 Freeway in Colton on Friday, Jan. 17, when cars were struck by a pickup truck that authorities say crossed the median.
Eric D. Lopez, 55, of Grand Terrace, who had led the school for three years, and Faith C. Manigos, 40, in a third vehicle, died at the scene of the crash, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office said.
A memorial for Lopez has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 24 at the school at 3900 N. Puente Ave., Baldwin Park.
“I lost a man that I deeply admired and enjoyed working with,” former Baldwin Park Unified School District board member Christina Lucero wrote in a Facebook post. “He was an extraordinary man, an inspiring principal, a calming influence, and a friend. He will be profoundly missed by many.”
A friend, Chris Diaz, wrote on Facebook that he had recently wished Lopez a happy birthday.
“Thank you for the imprint you made in my life and to all the students who had the opportunity to know you and who you served as a role model for in leadership, humanity, academics and life,” Diaz wrote.
Baldwin Park Superintendent Froilan N. Mendoza, in a Facebook post, described Lopez as a friend and an influential and compassionate leader.
Lopez graduated from El Monte High and earned his bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz, Mendoza said. He returned to El Monte to teach social studies before becoming an assistant principal at Sierra Vista High. He then served as principal at Jones and Olive middle schools before taking over at Baldwin Park High.
The collision happened at about 6:10 p.m. in the eastbound 10 Freeway lanes west of Rancho Road, said Officer Ivan Sandoval, a California Highway Patrol spokesman. A Ford F-150, headed west, crossed the center divider and struck several eastbound cars, Sandoval said. Lopez, driving a Tesla Model 3, and Manigos, driving a Scion XD, were killed. A Toyota Echo and a Ford Explorer were also hit.
Why the F-150 crossed the divider was still under investigation Tuesday. No information on its driver was currently available.
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