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Worker killed when Peterbilt crashes through guardrail along California freeway

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Worker killed when Peterbilt crashes through guardrail along California freeway
A box truck veered onto the shoulder of a Southern California freeway on the morning of May 6, 2024, killing a contract worker. 

CHINO HILLS, Calif. — A contract worker was killed and another was seriously injured when a box truck veered onto the shoulder of a Southern California freeway, authorities said.

The crash happened Monday morning as a cleanup crew of about seven employees hired by Caltrans was working behind a guardrail along State Route 71 in Chino Hills, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Peterbilt box truck sideswiped the workers’ parked van and barreled through the guardrail, striking two people, said CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.

A 54-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene by the Chino Valley Fire Department. The second worker, a 36-year-old man, was hospitalized with major injuries, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The 34-year-old driver of the box truck was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. The driver, a resident of Pomona, complied with a sobriety test and was not impaired, Jimenez said.

The man was not arrested. Investigators were still trying to determine why he lost control on the highway about 30 miles (48 km) east of downtown Los Angeles.

Two northbound lanes were closed into Monday afternoon.

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The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. The Trucker Media Group is subscriber of The Associated Press has been granted the license to use this content on TheTrucker.com and The Trucker newspaper in accordance with its Content License Agreement with The Associated Press.
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3 Comments

This person driver of box truck might had a seizure or heart attack .Its really sad for families had lost their loved one and the another road worker in hospital
My deepest condolences to the family
My prayers for bother families in this horrible situation

Prayers for the families of the workers.
My first thought is if the driver was not impaired, my guess is he might of been distracted, possibly on his phone. Out here on the road I see it every day. Big trucks as well as cars/pickups. Please, people get off your phones!!

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