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Crime & Safety

Car Driving in Reverse Overturns Cement Truck; One Dead in Morning Crash

A man driving his Suzuki died this morning when he reversed his car across four lanes of traffic and into the path of a cement truck, which overturned and dumped cement on the road.

On northbound Interstate 5, south of the Palm Avenue on-ramp, the driver of a 2004 Suzuki vehicle died this morning when he collided with a Peterbilt cement truck that overturned at 1:29 a.m. this morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Northbound traffic was blocked for several hours.

The 43-year-old cement truck driver was travelling north in the number four lane at approximately 50 mph when the 30-year-old Suzuki driver reversed his car from the number one lane across all lanes and into the path of the oncoming Peterbilt.

Sgt. Leonard of the CHP, who was not on scene, said that the actions of the Suzuki driver seemed “as if he had missed his exit, and was trying to reverse to it.”  

The Peterbilt collided with the Suzuki, pushing it back across four lanes into the center median before rolling on to its right side and spilling cement across the road.

The truck came to rest in a position facing west, blocking the number two, three and four lanes. An estimated 7.5 yards of cement caked the roadway.

The Suzuki driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No injuries to the Peterbilt driver were reported.

The identity of the deceased driver is being held until the family can be notified.

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