Fatal Collision As Driver Slams Into Caltrans Truck

The eastbound Riverside Freeway was at a standstill Tuesday morning following a fatal collision between a sedan and Caltrans contractor on the eastbound Riverside (91) Freeway in Anaheim. A 35-year-old man was killed Tuesday in the crash.

The collision happened at just before 3:30 a.m. near Tustin Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. The victim, who officials said was from the Inland Empire, died at the scene, according to the CHP. The driver of the Caltrans-hired contractor's truck was out of the vehicle and not injured.

The contractor was hooking up a freeway-closure sign to his pickup when "he saw the driver swerving and jumped out of the way," Lindsey Hart of Caltrans said. There was a freeway closure in the area, and the contractor was in the process of re-opening the fast lane.

The wayward vehicle slammed into the sign, which struck the truck, Hart said. The vehicle also struck the contractor's pickup, according to the CHP.

"Luckily, he was very alert and got out of the way," Hart said.

Caltrans employees and contractors hired by the agency "are trained to be constantly paying attention, especially at night," Hart said.

The man who died was driving a white Lexus ES300 on the freeway in the fast lane at an unknown speed, approaching the closure, according to the CHP.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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