A semi-truck crash in Desert Center involving two big-rigs killed three men and seriously injured a little girl. It was one of multiple fatal accidents in California in recent days, highlighting the potential for danger on the road both to other motorists and to passengers in semi trucks.
Young Girl Ejected from Semi Truck on the 10 Freeway
October 26, 2017
The Desert Center truck crash happened on the 10 Freeway east of Eagle Mountain Road at around 5:45 a.m. on October 26. A semi-truck traveling eastbound lost control and smashed into a second semi-truck that was parked on the shoulder of the road. One of the vehicles caught fire.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) said a young girl, who was less than five years old, was with two men in the Container Transfer Corp. truck that slammed into the parked big rig, which was owned by Kaiser Transport. She was ejected from the vehicle in the collision and airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries.
Two of the fatalities were the men in the Container Transfer Corp. truck. The driver died in the vehicle while the other male passenger was ejected along with the girl. He died at the scene. The third victim was the Kaiser Transport truck driver. He was outside his truck during the collision but was struck and killed by an unknown object.
According to reports, there have been nine fatal crashes along that same stretch of I-10.
California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, which left all eastbound lanes blocked for the duration of the morning, with some not reopening until 5:00 p.m.
Truck Driver Dies At Westley Crash Scene
October 26, 2017
Authorities have not indicated what caused the death of a 54-year-old big rig driver, who died at the scene of a crash on I-5 near Westley. The truck was traveling southbound on I-5 and was west of Westley when it moved off the road at around 3:30 p.m., crashed through a fence and hit a grove of fruit trees.
The driver did not appear to have sustained any injuries in the crash, leading the California Highway Patrol to suspect he died of a medical issue while driving, but authorities will not make a ruling until the results of an autopsy come in.
Motorist Dies After Crashing into Parked Big Rig in Sonoma County
October 25, 2017
A motorist died after crashing into a big rig that was pulled over on the side of the road, but was still partially blocking a lane. Christopher Lawrence Hamilton, 35, from Santa Rosa, was driving in the No. 4 lane on U.S. Highway 101 near State Highway 12 at 3:35 a.m. when he crashed into a semi-truck that had pulled over for mechanical issues. Although Hamilton died in the crash, his dog, who was also in the vehicle with him, survived. The big rig’s driver was not injured in the crash.
The crash is under investigation.
Motorist Dies After Rear-Ending Big Rig on I-80
October 24, 2017
A pickup truck driver died on Interstate 80 west of Truxel Road in the Natomas area of Sacramento after his Silverado rear-ended a big rig. The accident happened around 5:45 p.m. in heavy traffic. The semi-truck was reportedly traveling at 5 miles per hour in the No. 3 lane. The Silverado was traveling at 65 miles per hour and failed to slow down before colliding with the semi-truck.
The 39-year-old Silverado driver died at the scene. The Sacramento County Coroner’s office identified him as Jason Stanley from West Sacramento. The big rig driver was not injured in the collision.
Semi-Truck Driver Dies After Colliding with Tree
October 22, 2017
A semi-truck driver died after his big rig lost control and left southbound Interstate Highway 680, north of Alcosta Boulevard. The semi-truck clipped a vehicle, though none of the vehicle’s occupants were injured, the drove through a fence and crashed into a tree along San Ramon Valley Road.
The driver was reportedly Ermilo Gonzales Jr., a 62-year-old Gilroy resident. California Highway Patrol is investigating whether Gonzales died because of the crash or suffered a medical emergency that caused the crash.
“We don’t know for sure if he had a medical emergency, but that’s in the back of our minds,” said California Highway Patrol spokesperson Officer Tyler Hahn. “That, or maybe if he fell asleep. There were no obvious signs of an evasive maneuver either on the freeway or when he crashed into the fence.”
A hazardous materials team was called to the scene after fuel leaked into a nearby drain.