Authorities temporarily blocked multiple lanes for several hours as crews responded and investigated the collision.
San Bernardino County, CA – A man was killed Tuesday afternoon after his pickup truck collided with the rear of a stopped box truck on northbound Interstate 15 near Kenwood Avenue.
The crash was reported around 2:32 p.m.
A witness told authorities the driver of a black 2019 Dodge Ram Big Horn was heading north when he came upon a white box truck that was completely stopped in the traffic lane for unknown reasons. The pickup driver was unable to stop in time and struck the back of the truck.
The man, who was the only person inside the Dodge Ram, died at the scene.
A Greyhound bus that was traveling behind the vehicles narrowly missed hitting them but stopped at the scene.
Authorities temporarily blocked multiple lanes for several hours as crews responded and investigated the collision.
Further details, including the victim’s identity and why the box truck was stopped, remain under investigation.
The Cajon Pass is widely recognized as one of California’s most dangerous and deadliest stretches of road, with a high rate of fatal and total collisions driven by its challenging terrain, variable weather, and high traffic volume. A 5-mile segment of Interstate 15 in the Pass was identified as the deadliest road in California, with 19 fatal accidents recorded between 2017 and 2019. Accidents in the area are often multi-vehicle collisions and big rig incidents, caused by factors including steep grades, sudden weather changes (fog, rain, snow), mechanical failures (especially brake failures due to the decline), speeding, and distracted driving. In some specific years, collision rates have surged; for example, total collisions increased significantly during a construction project period, from around 430 in 2011 to 738 in 2014, while fatal collisions varied between 5 and 7 annually in that same period. The emotional and psychological toll on drivers is a significant human cost of the pass’s traffic congestion and challenging conditions.
Did You Lose Your Loved One in this Collision?
If your family member died in this Cajon Pass collision, you may have the right to seek for compensation for the wrongful death of your loved one. To know more about the legal options you have, visit our wrongful death attorney page.