At least two people were killed Sunday morning in a fiery crash involving a semi-truck and another vehicle on the 60 Freeway in El Monte, authorities said. (KABC)
2 drivers killed when semi goes over side of 60 Freeway in South El Monte; several EB lanes closed
Sunday, September 02, 2018
SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif. (KABC) -- Two drivers were killed in a fiery crash Sunday morning when a semi-truck and BMW collided on the 60 Freeway in South El Monte, sending the big rig over the side and onto the street below.
The collision happened about 4:30 a.m. near Peck Road, prompting the closure of the street and all eastbound lanes on the 60, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Investigators said both vehicles erupted in flames after the semitrailer slammed into the BMW from behind. It was unclear whether the BMW had slowed in a traffic lane or completely stopped.
A witness said the truck driver blared that vehicle's horn before the impact.
"That's what a lot of motorists don't understand - they cannot stop as easily as a vehicle does," said CHP Sgt. Eddie Perez, comparing big rigs with ordinary cars and trucks. "So for them to slow their speeds down, to try to avoid or swerve, it's almost nearly impossible - especially if it's dark, it happens to be in front of them. So they can't easily maneuver around as, let's say, a simple four-door sedan would."
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP said. Their bodies were burned so badly that first responders could not determine whether they were male or female.
The incident left the semi overturned on Peck and its payload of cantaloupes strewn across the crash site. The other burned-out vehicle remained on the freeway, whose guardrails were melted by flames.
One lane was later reopened on the 60, but traffic remained backed up as far as Rosemead Boulevard.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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Multiple lanes on the eastbound 60 Freeway were closed in South El Monte following a fiery crash that left two people dead Sunday morning, officials said.
A big rig erupts in flames following a crash in South El Monte on Sept. 2, 2018. (Credit: Charlie Valdez)
The multivehicle crash was reported just before 4:30 a.m. on the freeway at Peck Road, according to Officer Elizabeth Kravig with the California Highway Patrol.
A KTLA viewer captured video of the scene which showed the fiery aftermath of the crash involving a big rig carrying cantaloupes and a BMW.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the big rig collided with the BMW, causing that second vehicle to spin out of control and end up facing westbound in the eastbound shoulder of the freeway, CHP Sgt. Eddie Perez told KTLA.
The crash also caused the semi-truck to plunge off the freeway and onto the road below, video and photos showed. The driver of the big rig was possibly attempting to slow down or stop to avoid the BMW, and may have been unable to do so because it takes much longer to stop compared to a passenger vehicle, Perez said.
The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Their identities were not released.
South El Monte resident Stephen Mroz was at a nearby fast-food restaurant when he heard the "tremendous impact" of the crash.
"Everything was on fire right away," he said. "I mean, instantly everything was burning. It was a big ball of flame."
A SigAlert was issued due to the crash. By early Sunday afternoon, the No. 5 lane on the eastbound side of the freeway and the Peck Road on-ramp were still closed, according to CHP.
As for the opposite side, all westbound lanes remained open. Crews were hoping to have all lanes back open by the afternoon hours.
Below the freeway, both directions of Peck Road were also closed as the cleanup continued.
The fatal collision remained under investigation.