A truck driver lost his life yesterday in a crash involving four big rigs on I-10 near Cabazon, California.
The crash happened around 11 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-10. Miguel Rolon, Sr., 59, was towing an empty flatbed trailer when his truck underwent some sort of malfunction and stopped completely in the #3 lane, according to police. Rolon got out of the the truck and climbed onto the trailer, waving his arms to try to warn other drivers.
While CHP was en route, a FedEx truck hauling doubles driven by Roger Ellis, 64, slammed into the back of the flatbed trailer, throwing Rolon into the road, where he was later pronounced dead on the scene.
Two other trucks then crashed into the wreckage and debris from the initial crash.
Ellis and his co-driver Mark Mulholland, 59, suffered minor injuries during the crash. No other injuries were reported.
Hazmat teams were called in to clean up a diesel fuel spill that happened during the crash.
The incident caused massive traffic backups, but all lanes were reopened by 3:15 p.m.
Investigators are still working to determine why Rolon’s truck became disabled.
It is unclear whether charges will be filed, but CHP says that drugs and alcohol are not considered to be a factor in the crash.
CABAZON UPDATE: Investigation continues following fatal crash on EB 10 Fwy at Main St; traffic jammed from Malki Rd pic.twitter.com/UAcn9BkyoB
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 11, 2016
Sources:
Banning-Beaumont Patch
The Desert Sun
The Press Enterprise
KESQ