FONTANA: Sleeping passenger killed when big-rig plows into guardrail, trees on I-10

FONTANA — A passenger sleeping inside the sleeper cab of a double-trailer semi-truck died this morning in Fontana after the vehicle left the roadway, smashed into a guard rail, and plowed head-on into a stand of large trees.

The trailers, which were marked with poison placards, were loaded with liquid nicotine in 5-gallon buckets, some of which were leaking from inside the trailers. Additionally, at least one of the two trailers had ripped open, spilling some of its cargo. The dangerous substance prompted a hazmat response and further complicated the rescue and subsequent cleanup efforts.

The deadly accident, which is being investigated by California Highway Patrol, happened early Monday morning, June 18, on the westbound I-10 just east of Cherry, and north of the City’s Southwest Industrial Park. The fatal crash created a traffic nightmare for Monday morning commuters, who were directed off the freeway onto nearby surface streets.

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CHP, along with the San Bernardino County Fire Department and other emergency first responders, were dispatched to the scene of the fatal wreck shortly before 1:30 a.m., after other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the crash.

When they arrived, first responders found a SAIA semi-truck with two trailers that had left the roadway and collided with a large tree along the right-hand shoulder of the freeway.

The truck was destroyed by the violent and deadly wreck, as was at least one of the two trailers, which was ripped open on the right side and spilling its contents onto the dirt shoulder.

Firefighters found the injured driver trapped inside the cab of the truck and began a cut and rescue operation.

Officials eventually extricated the driver and he was treated at the scene. His injuries were described as minor and it was not immediately known if he was transported to a hospital for further treatment.

Firefighters then found the body of a passenger, who had reportedly been asleep in the sleeper cab of the truck. Paramedics declared the victim deceased at the scene.

Eight hours after the accident work crews were still at the scene, clearing the destroyed big-rig as well as several large trees. Hazmat officials also spent several hours digging up and removing soil, which was contaminated with the liquid nicotine as well as fuel and other fluids that had spilled from the truck.

As of 9:30 a.m., three of the interstate’s lanes had re-opened, but the two outer lanes between Citrus and Cherry Avenues remained shut down.

CHP’s investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

#TRAFFICALERT Cleanup continues of fatal big rig crash on WB 10 Freeway at Cherry Ave. 3 right lanes to be closed until at least 7:30 a.m. https://t.co/gsOAFUgLWn pic.twitter.com/KHx9uZOL0E

— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) June 18, 2018

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.