Executive Summary
- A fatal crash occurred Tuesday afternoon on Northbound I-15 near Kenwood Avenue in the Cajon Pass.
- A Dodge Ram pickup truck collided with the rear of a box truck that was stopped in a traffic lane.
- The driver of the pickup truck was confirmed deceased by the San Bernardino County Coroner.
- CHP investigators are working to determine why the box truck was stationary on the freeway.
CAJON PASS, Calif. — A motorist was killed Tuesday afternoon when his pickup truck collided with the rear of a stationary box truck on Northbound Interstate 15 near Kenwood Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The incident was logged by authorities at approximately 2:32 p.m. According to witness statements provided to the Victor Valley News Group, the driver of a black 2019 Dodge Ram Big Horn was traveling northbound when the vehicle struck a white box truck that had stopped completely in the traffic lane for unknown reasons. Witnesses indicated that the driver of the pickup appeared unable to stop in time to avoid the impact.
A Greyhound bus traveling immediately behind the involved vehicles reportedly narrowly avoided the crash and stopped at the scene, though it was not part of the collision. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was requested for a coroner response at 2:50 p.m., and CHP incident logs confirmed the fatality at 5:02 p.m. following a report from the receiving hospital.
Emergency crews cleared the scene and reopened all lanes by 4:07 p.m., although residual traffic congestion remained for several miles. The identity of the deceased male driver, who was the sole occupant of the Dodge Ram, has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Investigative Outlook
The California Highway Patrol is currently conducting a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision, with a primary focus on determining why the box truck was stationary in an active lane of the interstate. Investigators are expected to reconstruct the accident scene and review witness accounts to ascertain if mechanical failure or negligence contributed to the hazardous obstruction. The findings of this inquiry will be essential in establishing the sequence of events and determining potential liability regarding the stopped commercial vehicle.
