Rancho Cucamonga: 210 Freeway rollover leaves one dead, one critically injured
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Officials are investigating after one person died and another was left in critical condition after a driver reportedly lost control, overturned and smashed into a light pole Friday night May 12. The deadly wreck happened on the westbound 210 Freeway, at the Archibald Avenue off ramp.
Officials found a vehicle that had overturned and smashed into a light pole. Loudlabs News photo
California Highway Patrol officers, Rancho Cucamonga firefighters and American Medical Response medics responded to the solo-vehicle crash just after 9:30 p.m., after several passing motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the wreck.
When officials arrived at the scene they found a wrecked, white sedan with vehicle parts and debris strewn across portions of the freeway.
Medical personal found one of the victims trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the car. The victim had suffered major, traumatic injuries. Firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to perform a cut and rescue operation to free the pinned occupant.
One victim reportedly succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was airlifted by Upland Fire Department’s air ambulance to an area trauma center. The victim was reportedly in critical condition.
Early reports from the scene indicated that one of the occupants might have been ejected; however, officials had not yet confirmed that as fact.
Firefighters use the “Jaws of Life” to free a trapped and pinned victim. Loudlabs News photo
During their investigation, officers determined the sedan had been traveling westbound when, for unknown reasons, the driver lost control of his vehicle.
The out of control car traveled up a freeway embankment where it overturned – possibly several times – and smashed into a metal light pole.
The vehicle eventually came to rest on its wheels at the beginning of the Archibald Avenue off ramp.
While officers conducted their investigation, they called for the temporary closure of the number 1 lane of the westbound 210. Officers also closed the Archibald Avenue off ramp.
Officials have not yet determined if alcohol and/or drug intoxication or speed were contributing factors in the deadly wreck.
CHP is investigating the cause of the collision. Their investigation is active and ongoing.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as they become available.
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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.