Desert Center, California — March 15, 2011
Police say two people were transported to the hospital by helicopter early Tuesday morning after a four-vehicle crash involving three semis along Interstate 10 near Desert Center.
The California Highway Patrol reports that all four vehicles were traveling west along I-10, between Eagle Mountain Road and Coachella Valley, around 2:30 a.m. when the crash occurred.
Investigators say a trucker and another traveler sustained major to moderate injuries and were taken to the hospital via helicopter. A third victim suffered only minor injuries and received treatment at the scene.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded to the scene with a hazardous materials crew to address an estimated 25 gallons of fuel and at least 10 gallons of oil that leaked onto the road from the wreckage of the semis.
Police diverted westbound traffic onto California State Route 177, using California State Route 62 as a detour. They expected the roadway to remain closed well into the morning.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that more than 500,000 semis and large commercial vehicles were involved in traffic crashes in 2010. Those accidents resulted in injuries to more than 100,000 people and more than 5,000 deaths.
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