LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol has released its initial report into the fatal big rig crash that occurred on Highway 20 east of Lucerne early Friday morning.
The driver of the 2010 Peterbilt semi was killed in the wreck. The CHP has not released the name of the 54-year-old Citrus Heights man pending notification of kin.
The CHP report said the driver was traveling westbound on Highway 20 west of Cora Drive, pulling a 2003 TCRFT flatbed trailer hauling four 10,000-pound concrete culverts at an unknown rate of speed.
For unknown reasons, at approximately 5:42 a.m. the driver allowed the semi to make an unsafe turning movement in a sweeping left turn, with the truck overturning and spilling its load, the report stated.
The semi continued sliding eastbound until it hit a dirt embankment, which the CHP said caused major intrusion into the cab of the truck.
The CHP said nearby residents heard the crash and responded to give aid, but found the driver trapped in the cab and unresponsive. The report said the driver was wearing his seat belt.
Northshore Fire Protection District personnel who arrived a short time later found the driver had died of his injuries, according to the report and fire officials.
With the truck and tractor having come to rest off the roadway, the CHP said the highway remained open during the majority of the incident.
However, during the recovery of the semi and the body of the driver on Friday afternoon, Highway 20 was limited to one-way traffic control with the assistance of Caltrans, the CHP said.
The CHP said all emergency personnel and equipment cleared the scene at 2:20 p.m.
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