Tow truck crashes on Highway 18 in Lucerne Valley, 2 airlifted

[TowNews]

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Two people were critically injured and several others hurt after a tow truck they were traveling in lost control and crashed 60 feet down an embankment Sunday afternoon.

 

It happened at 2:18 pm, on Sunday, January 6, 2019, on Highway 18 near the Mitsubishi Cement Plant in Lucerne Valley.

 

According to California Highway Patrol incident logs, a “Blue Sky Towing” flatbed truck out of Hesperia, CA was hauling a white full-size van when it left the roadway and crashed 60 feet down an embankment.

 

First responders arrived and located the van and tow truck with major damaged, lodged near large boulders and two occupants requiring extrication.

San Bernardino County Firefighters performed extensive extrication to remove the two people trapped inside the mangled wreck.

 

Victor Valley News Group member Troy Seagondollar witnessed the crash and said the tow truck was coming down the hill and he could see the truck’s brakes were smoking.

 

“I was behind him and knew he was in trouble when the truck accelerated. He couldn’t make 20mph sharp turn at the bottom and flew into the ditch. The van on the flatbed came forward and crushed the cab,” stated Seagondollar.

 

Firefighters requested two medical helicopters to transport two patients with critical injuries.

 

The helicopters landed near the scene at the cement plant and airlifted two people to out of area trauma centers. Two juveniles patients with less serious injuries were also transported to local hospitals.

 

The official cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

 

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