1 Killed In Crash Involving Big Rigs, Shutting Down 10 Freeway In West Covina
Filed Under:EB 10 Freeway, Fatal Traffic Collision, Semi Truck, West Covina
WEST COVINA (CBSLA) — A crash involving three big rigs and a car killed at least one person and shut down all lanes of the eastbound 10 Freeway in West Covina for several hours early Thursday.
The accident happened just before 3 a.m. after a semi-truck heading eastbound on the 10 Freeway near the Citrus Street off ramp lost control and struck an unspecified number of vehicles on the freeway.
Traffic had stopped on the eastbound 10 Freeway because of another crash, but one big rig did not stop and struck a second big rig. That truck was pushed into a third big rig, which struck a Honda.
The driver of the second big rig, a 52-year-old man from South Gate, was killed in the crash. The driver in the first big rig was trapped in his cab and needed to be rescued. Firefighters used axes to pry his door open and free him from the steering wheel. A neck brace was put on him, but he was seen moving during the rescue operation and was taken to a hospital.
The trucks were left sprawled across several lanes of the eastbound 10 Freeway, and fluids from the damaged big rigs leaked onto the freeway. Cars in the wake of the crash were being turned around to exit at Citrus Avenue.
Authorities say they are working to reopen at least one lane, but the eastbound lanes remain closed from Azusa to Citrus. The entire eastbound side was closed until after 8 a.m., when authorities opened up a lane. Just one right lane remained blocked at 11 a.m.