A UPS tractor trailer truck plunged off the 15 freeway in the Cajon Pass on Wednesday, killing the truck driver.
The accident happened at about 7 a.m. UPS truck driver Alfred Eclipse, Jr., a 66-year-old Norwalk resident, was northbound on the 15 freeway, south of Oak Hills Road in Hesperia. Eclipse lost control of the 18-wheeler and plunged off the 15 freeway. An out-of-control vehicle caused the truck driver to swerve off the road and flip over, according to San Bernardino County coroner's officials
The tractor trailer driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Cajon Pass is known to be a dangerous stretch of freeway. This portion of the 15 freeway, which travels between the San Bernardino Mountains and San Gabriel mountains, carries a heavy volume of truck traffic transporting goods between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert. It is also the main artery for travelers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
The Cajon Pass has a high volume of truck accidents every year. Trucks must negotiate its steep grade. Drivers of overloaded trucks travelling in excess of the speed limit can lose control, with devastating results.
The Cajon Pass is also prone to big rig accidents because it is subject to snow and strong wind gusts. Heavy winds on the Cajon Pass can cause trucks to sway into adjacent lanes. Other drivers are forced to swerve to avoid colliding with the swaying truck. Multi-vehicle collisions can result.
Truck accident victims can suffer serious injuries, including brain injuries, annual tears, and complex regional pain syndrome. If you were injured in a truck accident involving a big rig, tractor trailer, semi, or flatbed truck, speak with a truck accident attorney at McGee, Lerer & Associates. Attorneys Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer, a husband and wife team, have over 40 of combined experience representing serious injury victims throughout Southern California. The firm has offices in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pasadena.