More Details Emerge on Fatal Freeway Accident Near Diamond Bar

A 29-year-old Hacienda Heights man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his 1993 Toyota Corolla crashed into the rear of a Caltrans 1995 dump truck on the 57 Freeway near Diamond Bar.

The on the northbound portion of the freeway, just north of Temple Avenue. The No. 1, 2, and 3 lanes were all blocked, and a Sig Alert was issued at 2 p.m. 

Before the accident occurred, a Caltrans sweeper detail was clearing the center median of debris, while two California Highway Patrol officers in marked patrol cars were providing traffic control.

The two-axle dump truck with an attenuator was in the No. 1 lane going about 5 mph, according to a CHP report.

The driver, whose name has not been released, was driving the Toyota at an unknown speed. For reasons not yet clear, the front of his car collided with the right rear of the Caltrans truck.

The two CHP officers attempted to resuscitate the motorist, and Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics later arrived and were unable to revive him. He was declared dead 18 minutes after the collision.

The driver of the Caltrans truck, 56-year-old Dave Britt, was not injured.

The accident snarled traffic, which by 3 p.m. was backed up to the 60 freeway. Four lanes on the freeway were shut down until at least 5 p.m., with the No. 2 and 3 lanes finally open again shortly after 6 p.m. The roadway was deemed clear by the CHP at close to 6:30 p.m.

This was the second fatal collision on a Southland freeway involving Caltrans in 14 days.

Connor Penhall, a 21-year-old from Corona who was working for a Caltrans subcontractor on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in Baldwin Park, was struck and killed by a car driven by Tatsuhiko Sakamoto, authorities said. 

Sakamoto, a 37-year-old Arcadia resident, drove his Toyota Rav4 through traffic cones. He has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter for driving while intoxicated.