CHP Details Deadly Big Rig Crash on I-10 in Cabazon [UPDATE]

CABAZON, CA- One person died in a freeway crash in the Cabazon area Wednesday, CHP officials report.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Darren Meyer, the crash was first reported at 10:52 a.m. along the eastbound side of I-10, near Haugen Lehmann.

CHP's preliminary investigation reveals that a large flatbed semi-truck stopped for unknown reasons in the number three lane around 10:52 a.m., according to Meyer.

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"The driver for whatever reason was unable to move his truck," he said.

Meanwhile, the driver of an approaching FedEx truck apparently did not see that stalled flatbed or the man atop-- and slammed into the back of it, throwing the flatbed driver onto the pavement upon impact, Meyer said.

"While CHP was responding, but before we could get here...[a] FedEx truck... slammed into the back of the flatbed trailer," Meyer said. "The person that was driving the flatbed truck was standing on the bed of the truck waving his arms trying to get traffic to go around him."

The flatbed driver, identified by the coroner's office as 59-year-old Miguel Rolon of Thermal, died at the scene. There were two people inside the FedEx truck, both of whom suffered only minor injuries, according to Meyer.

All eastbound lanes were blocked immediately following the crash, causing a slew of traffic in the area. Though two lanes were opened by about 1:30 p.m., traffic was backed up for several miles into Banning.

Meyer estimated all the wreckage from the crash wouldn't be cleared until at least 3 p.m.

(Photos: The scene along Interstate 10 in the Cabazon area following a fatal big rig crash on May 11, 2016. Credit: Renee Schiavone)