Highway Patrol Officers report a tragic vehicle accident that killed two people, including a resident of Big Pine. Family and friends of Laura and Rudolph Pappas heard the shocking news over the weekend that, Laura was killed in this head on collision that also left 51 year old Rudolph Pappas with major injuries.

It appears that passing on the two lane section of 395 near Cactus Flat Road caused this fatal accident. According to a press release a 23 year old woman, Danika Hayashi of Cerritos California, tried to pass a Chevy Suburban that was towing a trailer. Officers report that the Suburban with the trailer was driving 50 miles per hour, when Hayashi tried to pass with her Toyota 4-Runner.

From the press release, it appears that the 4-Runner drove onto the opposite shoulder when the driver saw the oncoming Mazda driven by Rudolph Pappas. The 4-Runner drifted back into the northbound lane causing the head on. There were three people in the 4-Runner, a 14 year old girl was killed, a 15 year old girl suffered major injuries, and the driver suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the Suburban with the trailer was not injured, but due to the violent nature of the accident, Rudolph Pappas suffered major injuries, his passenger, reported to be his wife, 48 year old Laura Pappas was pronounced dead at the scene.