Overturned big-rig forces I-215 closure
A big-rig carrying a full load of produce jack-knifed and overturned on the 215 Freeway between Van Buren and Harley Knox Boulevards, Monday, March 6.
The 2006 Freightliner sustained major damage when it overturned after hitting a guard rail. William Hayes photo
The multiple-vehicle, rollover accident, that happened between Riverside and Moreno Valley near March Air Reserve Base, caused a SigAlert and forced the temporary closure of all southbound lanes and one northbound lane of traffic of the freeway.
At least five people from four vehicles sustained injuries ranging from minor to major, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman.
The single northbound lane that was closed due to the accident reopened just before 4 p.m.
The southbound on-ramp and all but the number four southbound lane were reopened about 4:30 p.m. The number four lane was expected to remain closed for several more hours, according to a CHP incident log.
CHP officers and other emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the wreck about 12:10 p.m., after emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls from other motorists and witnesses reporting the multiple-vehicle accident.
Callers told dispatchers the semi-truck, a white 2006 Freightliner, had been traveling northbound on Interstate 215 when it smashed into the center divider guard rail and overturned into the southbound lanes of traffic.
The big-rig was hauling a full load of produce when it overturned. William Hayes photo
Three other vehicles were involved in the accident; however, it was not immediately known if an accident led to the rollover or if the three other vehicles were damaged after the big-rig overturned.
Both directions of travel were left severely congested as other drivers attempted to work their way past the overturned truck and the other vehicles that were involved in the accident.
Within minutes of their arrival, CHP officers issued a SigAlert just before 12:20 p.m., and called for the hard closure of the southbound direction of travel.
Twenty-five firefighters from three engine companies and two truck companies responded to the accident, according to Newman. They were assisted by the Riverside County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team and the department’s Hazardous Materials Support Unit.
When they arrived, emergency personnel began evaluating and treating occupants from the four involved vehicles, including the driver of the tractor-trailer who was trapped inside the wrecked big-rig and had sustained major injuries.
Crews work to right the overturned tractor-trailer. William Hayes photo
Firefighters had to perform a cut and rescue to extricate the injured truck driver from the destroyed rig.
American Medical Response medics eventually transported three people to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley.
“One victim was extricated from the semi-truck and transported to an area hospital with serious injuries,” Newman explained. “Two other patients from other vehicles involved were transported to area hospitals by ground (ambulance). One with moderate injuries and one with minor injuries.”
Three other victims involved in the accident were evaluated by paramedics at the scene and declined further medical treatment.
Riverside County Hazardous Materials Team were summoned to assist with clean-up of a “small amount of diesel fuel” that had spilled from the truck onto the roadway according to Newman. Riverside County Environmental Health also responded to the scene as a precautionary measure.
Several tow trucks and large wreckers responded to the scene of the accident to remove the vehicles that were damaged in the collision.
CHP is investigating the cause of the collision. Their investigation is active and ongoing.
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William Hayes/Epicenter News video
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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.