The collision was reported at approximately 2:17 a.m. on SR-57 (Orange Freeway), just south of the Tonner Canyon Road off-ramp.
Brea, CA – One person was killed after a vehicle crashed into the back of a semi-truck on the northbound State Route 57 early Wednesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision was reported at approximately 2:17 a.m. on SR-57 (Orange Freeway), just south of the Tonner Canyon Road off-ramp.
Dispatch information indicated that a vehicle struck the rear of a big rig that was stopped along the roadway.
The vehicle involved in the crash caught fire following the impact. The semi-truck driver reportedly pulled the truck forward after being alerted to the fire. Dispatch records also indicate that the truck driver was initially unsure whether the occupants of the other vehicle had managed to get out.
One person was confirmed dead at the scene, and the Orange County Coroner was requested to respond to the scene. The identity of the deceased has not been released.
The collision prompted the closure of several northbound lanes, with a SigAlert issued and later extended. All lanes were reopened at approximately 5:45 a.m. after the semi-truck was escorted off the freeway to a nearby yard.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal crash remain under investigation.