Fatal Tragedy on Southern California Freeway: Contract Worker Killed, Another Critically Injured
A devastating accident on a Southern California freeway has claimed the life of one contract worker and left another fighting for their life.
Fatal Crash on State Route 71
The tragedy occurred on Monday morning on State Route 71 in Chino Hills as a crew of cleanup workers hired by Caltrans toiled diligently behind a guardrail. Suddenly, disaster struck as a Peterbilt box truck veered onto the shoulder, plowing into the workers’ parked van and shattering through the guardrail.
The impact was catastrophic, leaving two workers injured. Tragically, a 54-year-old man succumbed to his injuries at the scene, pronounced dead by the Chino Valley Fire Department. The other victim, a 36-year-old man, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, according to the LA Times.
Box Truck Driver Unimpaired
The 34-year-old driver of the box truck was also transported to a hospital for the treatment of minor injuries. Subsequently, the driver, identified as a Pomona resident, underwent a sobriety test and was found to be unimpaired, as stated by CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
Notably, the driver has yet to be arrested as investigators delve into the circumstances that led to the loss of control on the highway, approximately 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Highway Closure and Ongoing Investigation
In the wake of the accident, two northbound lanes of the freeway were temporarily closed into Monday afternoon.
Investigators are diligently exploring the cause of the crash, keen on unraveling the reasons behind the box truck’s deviation onto the shoulder. Their findings will shed light on this tragic event and contribute to enhanced safety measures on our roadways.
