A truck driver and his passenger were killed near Bakersfield, California, yesterday when their truck crashed into a mountain at the top of a runaway truck ramp south of the I-5 Grapevine.
Runaway Truck Ramp Fails To Stop 18 Wheeler
The Fort Tejon – Grapevine division of the California Highway Patrol wrote:
“At approximately 3:30 am, we had a runaway big rig enter the east escape at an extremely high rate of speed. Please let this tragedy serve as a reminder to avoid stopping on the side of the freeway unless its an absolute emergency.
Vehicles losing control is a common occurrence. This makes shoulders of the freeway a dangerous place to park, get out of the vehicle, change drivers, play in the snow, take selfies, etc.”
According to reports, a 2007 Peterbilt entered the runaway truck ramp at such a high rate of speed that the gravel pit was unable to stop the truck. The truck crashed into the side of the mountain.
The force of the crash sent the cargo in the trailer crashing through the cab of the truck, ejecting the passenger.
The driver, a 44 year old man, and the passenger, a 42 year old woman, both from Fontana, died at the scene.
Cause Of Fatal Crash Remains Under Investigation
The California Highway Patrol is still working to determine the cause of the crash, but they have stated that weather is not believed to have been a factor.