REDDING: 58-year-old hit by big-rig while walking on I-5 identified
UPDATE: Sunday, Jan. 7, 10 p.m.
REDDING — Officials have identified a pedestrian who was killed Wednesday, Dec. 27, when he was struck by a commercial big-rig while walking along Interstate 5. The deadly accident happened near the Cypress Avenue off ramp, in Redding.
Shasta County Coroner’s officials later identified Kelley Dean Clark, 58, of Redding as the man killed in the collision.
California Highway Patrol and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the accident about 8:40 p.m., after motorists and other witnesses called 911 to report the accident to SHASCOM emergency dispatchers.
Officials who investigated the incident determined Clark was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer, semi-truck while walking in the southbound slow-lane of the I-5 Freeway, Chief Deputy Coroner Lieutenant Randall explained in a press release after the deadly accident.
Officials have stated they do not believe alcohol or drug intoxication were contributing factors on the part of the truck driver and they are still trying to determine why Clark was walking on the freeway when he was struck.
Portions of the southbound I-5 were temporary closed while officers investigated the fatal accident. Officers re-opened the roadway several hours later, at the conclusion of their initial investigation.
CHP is still investigating the cause of the crash and have not released any additional details.
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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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 27 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 14 grandchildren.