The Yucca Valley resident died at the scene of the crash that occurred around 7:47 a.m. April 14 on the westbound I-10 west of Washington Street.
Palm Desert, CA – The Riverside County Coroner’s Office has identified 62-year-old George Mauricio as the man who died in a chain-reaction collision that happened earlier this month on Interstate 10 in Palm Desert.
The Yucca Valley resident died at the scene of the crash that occurred around 7:47 a.m. April 14 on the westbound I-10 west of Washington Street.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Mauricio was driving a 2018 Peterbilt cement mixer westbound on I-10 when a 38-year-old Menifee man driving a 2021 Mack tractor-trailer eastbound on the freeway veered left, crossed the center median, and entered the westbound lanes.
The big rig broadsided Mauricio’s truck.
After colliding with the cement mixer, the big rig’s trailer blocked the westbound lanes and was struck by a Jeep. The collision also involved other vehicles in the eastbound lanes due to the big rig’s unsafe turning, authorities reported.
Mauricio was pronounced dead at the scene. His family opened a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for his funeral. According to his family, Mauricio was a “very kind and extremely loving man.” He was enjoying a typical day at work when the accident occurred, the family said.
The driver of the Mack was hospitalized with major injuries. Several others were treated for minor to moderate injuries.
An investigation into the collision is ongoing.