Big Rig Crushes Woman's Civic

Two people were hospitalized after a big rig jacknifed on the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway interchange to the Long Beach (710) Freeway and flopped on a Honda Civic Wednesday night. The California Highway Patrol reported that the woman trapped under the truck was in serious condition and the truck driver suffered less major injury. CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos said the accident occurred at 6:18 p.m. The accident caused lanes to be closed for hours and traffic clogged for miles.

Patch reader Nicole Stark witnessed the crash and took this photograph of the overturned rig from behind it. She described the crash to Patch:

"The driver of the big rig was merging onto the 710 ramp really fast.  As he approached the sharp turn the front part of his cab turned over first then the entire truck turned over pinning the Civic. The driver of the truck got out immediately and cars started pulling over.

"I pulled over and asked my daughter to wait in the car while I went to help.... There was no blood and she (the victim) was bent over pinned. I asked her for her name. I believe she said Nora....I asked if anyone was with her in the car. She said no. I  asked her if she could feel her legs and she said no. She said, 'I can't breathe.' I told her help was on the way and she was gonna get out immediately. I had to lay on the center divider because she was pinned against the wall and I couldn't get to her. There was no way she was getting out without that truck being moved. When help arrived I stood back and let them do what they had to do."

At 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities still hadn't been able to pick up the truck, said another motorist.

Patch Ad Manager Angel Garcia, stuck in the aftermath traffic, said the truck still had not been pulled off the premises by 8:30 p.m.