Box Truck Falls from Freeway Ramp onto Crash Scene, 3 Injured near Santa Clarita, CA
Santa Clarita, CA — December 2, 2022, three people were injured when a box truck fell off a freeway ramp onto another accident scene near Santa Clarita.
Authorities say the incident happened around 6:40 a.m. on the intersection between the 5 and 14 freeways. Preliminary investigation suggests and SUV and a semi-truck collided on the southbound truck bypass, after which the big rig overturned. As authorities worked the scene a box truck in the northbound lanes overhead crashed through the guardrail and fell on both the semi-truck and the SUV.
Three people suffered unspecified injuries in the crash.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Three-Vehicle Accident near Santa Clarita
The news mentioned rainy conditions and wet roads, which may lead some people to assume the box truck slid off the ramp (and the SUV and semi-truck may have crashed due to rain as well). That's not an unreasonable theory, but as always I would say the only real option is to carefully investigate both the initial wreck and the follow-up box truck crash so facts and evidence can tell the whole story. Frankly, I wonder if a "by the book" police investigation will be enough.
That's not meant as a dig against law enforcement. I've just learned over the years that their traffic investigators don't always have the time, tools, or training to get to the bottom of a wreck--and the more complicated or unusual it is, the less likely it is that they'll be able to connect all its dots. If important details slip through the cracks and the police report is incomplete or even wrong, that can make serious problems for the people affected.
Maybe that won't be a problem here, but I've seen it happen enough times that I wonder if another look by independent experts would better ensure those injured people get the answers and help they deserve.
