Man Who Killed Self After Crash Named

LANCASTER —  The driver of a car who committed suicide after causing a three-car collision that seriously injured an infant girl was identified by the county coroner’s office Monday as Gregory Peek, 27, of Palmdale.

The condition of injured girl, 6-month-old Jade Lewis, was upgraded Monday to stable but guarded at UCLA Medical Center, said Sheriff’s Deputy David Davidson, a traffic investigator. She had been listed in critical condition at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster shortly after the accident Sunday afternoon.

Investigators said Peek was driving north on 30th Street West when he failed to stop for a red light at Avenue K and broadsided a car driven by Danny Lewis, 43, of Lancaster. The impact caused Lewis’ car to roll over and hit a third car.

Jade Lewis, who was riding in Lewis’ car, suffered severe head injuries. Others involved in the crash were less seriously hurt.

While deputies and paramedics were taking care of people injured in the crash, Peek pulled out a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol and shot himself once in the right side of the head, authorities said. Peek was in a wheelchair, distraught over the injuries he caused, when he fired the pistol, deputies said.

Davidson, who has been a deputy for 24 years, said a suicide by a driver who had just caused a traffic accident is highly unusual. “This is the first one I’m aware of,” he said.