Suicide Suspected In I-10 Pedestrian Death Near Banning

BANNING, CA — A pedestrian who was struck and killed Wednesday by a big rig on Interstate 10 near Cabazon may have intentionally run in front of the truck, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The fatality was reported about 3:40 a.m. on eastbound I-10, west of the Haugan-Lehman Way exit.

Officer Matt Napier said the CHP is investigating the death as a possible suicide based on reports from the trucker and several witnesses that the person appeared to have intentionally gotten in front of the tractor-trailer, whose driver was uninjured.

The investigation into the crash prompted the closure of all eastbound lanes of the freeway at Main Street until about 7:30 a.m.

The victim's name, age and gender were not immediately released.