Rancho Cucamonga, CA (August 13, 2024) The community of Rancho Cucamonga was shocked and saddened by news of a death on Interstate 15. The collision was caused by a wrong-way driver in a stolen vehicle, officers reported. It happened around 1:40 p.m. near Summit Avenue, on Monday afternoon, August 12th.
It was Monday afternoon when calls began coming in about a vehicle driving the wrong direction on Intestate 15. Officers learned that the wrong-way vehicle, a 2004 GMC Yukon, had been stolen. The vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes at approximately 80 miles per hour on the right shoulder. Suddenly, the vehicle left the freeway by driving on the northbound Interstate 15 on-ramp, in the wrong direction.
A 2017 Kenworth tractor-trailer was driving on the on-ramp and collided with the SUV, head-on. The impact caused the SUV to spin around before it finally came to a stop with major front-end damage. The 63-year-old driver of the semi-truck immediately stopped, records indicated. The two damaged vehicles blocked the on-ramp, causing officers to close it and set up a detour for motorists. Reports indicated that eight Fontana Police Department patrol vehicles were requested to help close the on-ramp.
The California Highway Patrol arrived at the scene and checked the vehicles for anyone who had been injured. They found the driver of the GMC Yukon, identified only as an unidentified Hispanic male, trapped inside the vehicle. Paramedics rushed him to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, via ambulance, to receive medical attention for life-threatening injuries. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital at approximately 2:36 p.m., officers reported.
There were no reports as to whether or not the semi-truck driver, a West Covina resident, was injured in this collision. They are also unsure as to whether or not drugs or alcohol were factors in this accident.
Officers with the CHP spoke to witnesses, as well as the semi-truck driver and gathered every piece of evidence they could find at the scene. They are asking that anyone with information regarding this deadly collision contac them. The CHP, Rancho Cucamonga Division is leading this investigation and can be reached at (909) 980-3994.
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