A dump truck filled with wet cement had a brake failure on an off-ramp on the southbound 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass, rolled off the highway, struck, then landed on a PT Cruiser late Tuesday, June 24th. Five people were in the car at the time of the incident. Two occupants were killed and the other three were listed in critical condition. The crash occurred around 11:40 p.m.
The dump truck was exiting the 15 on Highway 138 when the construction vehicle’s brakes gave out. The truck crossed Highway 138 and struck the PT Cruiser. Both vehicles went down a nearby embankment before the dump truck landed on top of the car in a parking lot.
Two victims, a man and a woman, were declared dead at the scene of the accident. Two other victims were taken to a local hospital with severe injuries. The remaining victim was trapped in the vehicle for two hours before firefighters could remove the dump truck from the top of the car and rescue him with the jaws of life. After his extraction, he was also taken to a local hospital. All three survivors were listed in critical condition.
According to authorities, the exit on the 15 freeway is a small off-ramp with a large curve. The accident remains under investigation. The driver of the cement truck was not injured in the crash.
