A 48-year-old man was hospitalized Thursday with critical injuries suffered in a fatal crash between his garbage truck and a van in Pomona.
The van struck the truck about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
The man killed in the collision on Fairplex Drive, north of McKinley Avenue, was identified as Paul Potter, 66, of San Dimas, Pomona police Lt. Mike Keltner said Thursday.
The van and the Western Waste truck were traveling in opposite directions when the van crossed over and struck the truck head-on, causing it to burst into flames, Keltner said.
We're still trying to figure out what happened,'' he said. "We don't know why the van crossed over the road. It doesn't make sense."
The impact of the collision at the front end of the garbage truck and the forward motion of the heavy load from the rear triggered a fuel tank fire, Keltner said.
He added that the driver was unable to get out and suffered bothcritical burns and traumatic injuries. He was flown to a burn center for emergency treatment.
Potter suffered traumatic injuries, but it will require an autopsy to determine if he had a medical emergency before the collision, Keltner said.
A third vehicle involved in the collision was moderately damaged but the driver was not hurt, he said.
A Los Angeles County Hazardous Materials team rushed to the site of the wreck to keep potential contaminants from seeping into storm drains.
