Nicole Ruddy and Unborn Child Killed in Hesperia Crash on Highway 395 at Poplar Street
Hesperia, California (January 22, 2023) – 33-year-old Nicole Ruddy and her unborn child were killed in a collision involving a suspected drunk driver on Saturday night.
The accident happened on Highway 395 at Poplar Street at around 11:40 p.m., January 21.
According to the California Highway Patrol, 36-year-old Eddie Escobedo was driving a black 2020 Ford Explorer northbound on the highway when he drifted into the opposite lanes and collided head-on with a 2018 Toyota Corolla driven by 36-year-old Andrew Ruddy, of Orange.
Ruddy’s wife, Nicole, who was 35 weeks pregnant and was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Corolla was transported to a trauma center where she and her unborn baby succumbed.
Escobedo and Andrew were also transported to the hospital with major injuries.
Authorities determined that Escobedo was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and was booked at the West Valley Detention Center for gross vehicular manslaughter.
Additional information about the accident was not provided.
An investigation into the accident is underway.
