Big rig tumbled down 80 foot embankment, killing driver, injuring trooper

A truck driver lost his life in a single vehicle crash near Castaic, California, on Monday.

The crash occurred around 12:40 p.m. on northbound I-5 north of Templin Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

I-5 UPDATE 3:40 PM: Two right lanes of NB I-5 just north of Templin Hwy near #Castaic BLOCKED due to big rig over side 80 feet down. Collision resulted in fatality. Law enforcement investigating. Two left lanes OPEN. Check to https://t.co/NBeQFoO0lp for latest road conditions. pic.twitter.com/zlnSQYts7O

— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) January 4, 2021

Police say that a semi truck driven by Richard Peter Heeschen, 58, veered off the interstate and crashed 80 — 100 feet down an embankment.

Heeschen died at the scene.

A responding California Highway Patrol officer was also airlifted to the hospital for treatment.

A preliminary investigation shows that Heeschen could have suffered from a medical emergency prior to the crash.