Crash on 60 Freeway Caused When Big Rig Strikes Caltrans Truck

A collision between a big rig and a truck parked on the shoulder of the 60 freeway Wednesday injured nine and snarled traffic for hours.

A man was driving a tractor-trailer truck on the eastbound 60 freeway just east of Grand Avenue in the No. 6 lane at around 10 a.m. when he veered to the right and struck a Caltrans truck and a van that were parked on the right shoulder, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.

Two Caltrans employees and two court-ordered freeway cleanup crew members were standing to the right of the van and four other court-order workers were inside when the driver of the truck veered off the road and hit the rear of the Caltrans truck. The truck lurched forward and hit the van, Jimenez said. 

A fourth vehicle, a pickup truck, was hit by debris from the collision as it passed by the scene, he said.

While the Highway Patrol investigated the crash, the Los Angeles County Fire Department cared for those involved. The truck driver had to be extricated from the truck and was transported by helicopter to the USC Medical hospital with moderate to major injuries, Jimenez said. 

Six others were treated for minor to moderate injuries and taken by ambulance to the San Dimas Community Hospital, the Pomona Valley Hospital, and Western Medical Hospitals.

A Sig Alert remains in place while debris is cleaned up. Two eastbound lanes remained closed this afternoon.  The CHP estimated they would reopen about 9 p.m., City News Service reported.