Caltrans workers killed, 2 others injured in collision on Highway 71 – Daily Bulletin

A Caltrans worker was killed and two other crew members were injured Monday in a traffic accident on the 71 Freeway in the Chino Hills area, officials said.

The accident occurred around 8:37 a.m. northbound on 71, north of Euclid Avenue. A 34-year-old male driver from Pomona, operating a Peterbilt box truck at an unknown speed, veered to the right, causing him to strike the side of a Ford Transit van parked on the right shoulder. The driver of the van, a 59-year-old man from Beaumont, was hired by Caltrans along with seven other workers to clean the highway, the California Highway Patrol said.

After ramming the van off the side, the truck lost control and swerved further to the right, crashing through the metal guardrail while Caltrans crew members were working behind it, hitting two people. A 54-year-old San Bernardino man suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second crew member, a 36-year-old man from San Bernardino, was hospitalized with serious injuries. According to an accident report, the van driver was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be responsible for the accident. There were no arrests.