Semi-Truck Crashed Into Stalled Vehicle on the 15 Freeway in San Bernardino County Near Barstow
SAN BERNADINO, CALIFORNIA (July 16, 2025) – One person has tragically died in a San Bernardino County semi-truck accident on the 15th freeway not far from Hodge Road.
San Bernardino County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9 pm on July 14. A 56-year-old man from Corona was in a 2023 Honda Civic that came to a stop in the number three lane of the freeway.
A semi truck failed to slow down in time and hit the stalled Honda Civic. Surveillance footage shows the Honda being pushed down the freeway.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help the victim. Sadly, the driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi-truck remained at the scene as California Highway Patrol continued their investigation. A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Liability for San Bernardino County Semi-Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are seriously injured or killed every year in accidents involving commercial truck drivers. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2023, 5,375 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, an 8.4% decrease from 2022 but a 43% increase in the last 10 years. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is down 8% from 2022, but up 22% in the last 10 years.” Truck accidents are often highly complex events that could be caused by any number of different factors.
- Fatigue: Truck drivers are often pushed to work long hours and may naturally become fatigued. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 17 hours can reduce a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%.
- Speed: A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds. It can take this truck the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop at freeway speeds.
- Blind Spots: Many truck collisions are caused by truck drivers that failed to check their blind spots. This is particularly true if a truck driver is making a turn from one street to another.
Truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial license. They are expected to be intimately familiar with how their vehicle operates and navigate the roadways safely. A number of truck collisions have been caused by truck drivers that failed to properly scan the road ahead of them for hazards. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall operate a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than would be reasonable and prudent, having regard for weather, visibility, and the traffic conditions that exist on the highway. There is simply no excuse for a driver to rear-end another vehicle in their own lane of traffic, even if it was stopped in the middle of a highway. It is important that evidence be properly preserved after any truck accident.
- Event Data Recorder: Most commercial trucks have what’s called an event data recorder. This device operates in much the same way that a black box does on an airplane. The data from an event data reporter can provide helpful insight into what a truck driver was doing immediately prior to a collision.
- Logbook: Truck drivers are only allowed to work a certain number of hours per week and day. Exceeding allowable work hours is a major violation. Logbooks can help reveal if a truck driver was operating their vehicle longer than they were supposed to.
- Photos: All photos and surveillance footage that may have captured an accident should be sought. The detail in these images can help paint a clear picture of what happened. For example, a lack of skid marks on the roadway can help demonstrate that a truck driver didn’t even fail to brake before hitting a vehicle.
Truck accidents are often highly preventable. Part of the problem is that truck companies will push their drivers to complete delivery routes on unrealistic timelines. In fact, 1 in 10 truck drivers involved in a fatal collision reported feeling under pressure from their carrier. To make matters worse, these companies will virtually never accept responsibility if one of their drivers causes an accident. That is why it is so important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party with an extensive background in commercial vehicle accidents.
Investigating San Bernardino County Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man killed in this San Bernardino County truck accident. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the California Highway Patrol. Many questions remain unanswered. What was the speed of this truck prior to the accident? Did this truck driver have a clean driving record?
Do you need more information about a San Bernardino County truck accident? Our team of California freeway truck accident attorneys is here to assist you in any way that we can. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding negligent parties fully accountable for their wrongful conduct. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering what your options are after any particular collision, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to our office anytime for a risk-free consultation at 949-727-9300.
