LOS ANGELES, CA — A violent crash involving two big rigs on Interstate 10 in Redlands sent multiple people to a local hospital early Friday morning, while the California Highway Patrol investigated how the collision occurred.
The crash was reported at about 3:05 a.m. near the Alabama Street off-ramp from westbound I-10, according to the California Highway Patrol incident information provided after the collision.
The location is near the Alabama Street and Tennessee Street interchanges in Redlands. Caltrans identifies Alabama Street as Exit 77A and Tennessee Street as part of the adjacent interchange area along I-10.
Person found unconscious near freeway ramps
When CHP officers arrived, they found an unconscious person on the ground between the Alabama Street off-ramp and the Tennessee Street on-ramp.
Initial information indicated that the person may have been ejected from one of the trucks. Authorities had not immediately confirmed whether the person was a driver, passenger or another individual involved in the crash.
Multiple people were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The circumstances surrounding the possible ejection remained under investigation, and authorities had not publicly established exactly how the person ended up outside one of the big rigs.
Two trucks sustained major damage
The collision caused substantial damage to both commercial trucks.
One of the big rigs suffered severe damage to its cab, which became detached from the trailer. The second semi-truck sustained significant damage to its trailer after the trailer struck a freeway support beam and split apart.
The extent of the damage left investigators with a large crash scene to document as they worked to determine how the two trucks collided and what happened immediately before the impact.
At this stage, authorities had not publicly identified a specific factor such as speeding, driver impairment, mechanical failure or another roadway condition as the cause.
CHP closes two Redlands ramps
The crash also temporarily affected access to the freeway in the immediate area.
CHP closed both the Alabama Street and Tennessee Street ramps while officers investigated the collision and crews worked around the damaged trucks and debris.
The main westbound I-10 freeway remained open, meaning the closures were concentrated around the ramps rather than involving a full shutdown of the interstate.
The ramps were expected to remain closed until approximately 9 a.m., according to the initial information.
Drivers using the area could check Caltrans QuickMap for highway incidents, closures and other real-time traffic information. Caltrans says QuickMap incorporates CHP incident information along with highway conditions and closure data.
Investigation into crash remains underway
The cause of the Redlands collision had not been determined as of the initial report.
Investigators are expected to examine the positions and damage to the two trucks, the roadway and surrounding infrastructure, along with available evidence that could help establish how the crash unfolded.
Information about the hospitalized victims, including their identities and medical conditions, had not been released.
It also remained unclear whether the person found unconscious between the ramps was among those transported to the hospital or whether additional people were involved.
The California Highway Patrol was continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
