The California Highway Patrol said the collision happened at about 7:09 a.m. on May 6, 2026, on eastbound Interstate 40 near mile marker 52, east of Crucero Road.
Ludlow, CA – The two people who were killed in a chain-reaction accident on Interstate 40 in Ludlow on Wednesday morning have been identified, according to authorities.
The San Bernardino County Medical Examiner identified the deceased as 36-year-old Keilamarie Duran San Miguel and 40-year-old Christian Joel Pantoja Sanchez, both residents of Orlando, Florida.
The fatal collision occurred on eastbound Interstate 40 near mile marker 52, east of Crucero Road, at approximately 7:09 a.m. on May 6, 2026, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Preliminary investigation findings indicate Keilamarie San Miguel was driving a tractor-trailer eastbound on Interstate 40 when, for unknown reasons, she failed to stop for traffic ahead. The big rig then triggered a chain-reaction collision involving three tractor-trailer combination vehicles.
Both Duran San Miguel and passenger Christian Sanchez were pronounced dead at the scene by responding emergency crews. Authorities said no other injuries were reported in the crash. No arrests were reported.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Authorities have not indicated whether speed or impairment were a factor in the crash.
Emergency responders and CHP officers arrived at the scene and secured the area while conducting the on-scene investigation.
The collision caused major disruptions along eastbound Interstate 40 as crews worked to investigate and clear the wreckage from the roadway.
The California Highway Patrol Barstow Area office continues to investigate the crash.