Thread: Big-rig carrying produce from Mexico slams into 5 cars

Hmm..maybe the signs should have been in spanish.

ANAHEIM – Eight people were injured in a six-vehicle pileup early this morning when a big-rig crashed into several stopped cars on the northbound I-5 freeway, authorities said.

Two of the people injured suffered major injuries in the fiery crash, which shut down lanes for about five hours, said California Highway Patrol officer Stacy Willets.

The crash happened at 12:18 a.m. near Magnolia Avenue, Willets said.

Vehicles headed northbound on the I-5 were being diverted to the westbound 91 because of construction in the area. As vehicles slowed down near the detour, where the five-lane freeway was narrowed into two, a big-rig carrying produce from Mexico slammed into the back of two vehicles, Willets said.
The big-rig was traveling at normal freeway speeds and the driver didn't see traffic slowing down to a stop for an unknown reason, Willets said.

The big-rig jackknifed, and the trailer caught fire after it detached from the big-rig.

The big-rig driver lost control and hit three more vehicles, Willets said.

"It basically plowed into five stopped cars," she said.

Eight people were transported to local hospitals. Two of them are in critical condition.

The driver of the big-rig was not seriously hurt, Willets said.

CHP officers are still investigating the crash. It is unknown why the driver didn't stop as traffic slowed down, Willets said. Signs marked the construction area and upcoming detour to warn drivers.

Caltrans workers in the area were not injured.

Nobody was cited and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.

The vehicles involved in the crash were a 2008 Ford Escape, Cadillac Escalade, 1998 Jaguar, 1998 Ford Explorer and 2007 Toyota Camry. All five cars were totaled, Willets said.

The remaining two lanes of the freeway were shut down until 5 a.m.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/w...-vehicles-down

It is unknown why the driver didn't stop as traffic slowed down, Willets said. Signs marked the construction area and upcoming detour to warn drivers.

Let's see. A) his brakes failed B) he couldn't read English or C) what was the produce he was carrying and had it been inspected before entry.

The big-rig was traveling at normal freeway speeds and the driver didn't see traffic slowing down to a stop for an unknown reason, Willets said.

Since when is "I didn't see it" a valid defense to a traffic offense. "I didn't see the speed limit sign/traffic stopping/stop sign/red light"--well, ok, then. Try to do better next time? I guess it's amazing that no one was seriously hurt by this guy. At least take away his CDL!!!

There was Mexican truck driver who did the same thing out here last year a little further south--supposedly didn't see the traffic ahead of him slowing and he plowed into a minivan--crushing it. All 3 children in the minivan died; the mother and grandmother survived. He was just sentenced today to a max of 3 years in prison. The post-script to that story is that the family had triplets born earlier this year--two girls and a boy--exactly the same as they lost in the accident last year. Link below.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/c...452-lori-three

HE DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH SO HE HAD TO CLUE WHAT THE SIGNS SAID. HOW MANY HERE DID NOT KNOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN?????