One man was killed and another injured in a crash involving a Mercedes-Benz SUV and two semi-trailers in Diamond Bar, authorities said Saturday.
The crash occurred at 10:30 p.m. Friday on the eastbound Pomona (60) Freeway west of Phillips Ranch Road where arriving California Highway Patrol officers found two damaged big rigs and a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 SUV, the CHP reported in a press statement.
The preliminary investigation indicated that 32-year-old Guadalupe Mercado of Chino was driving the SUV recklessly when he veered onto the right shoulder and the front of the SUV struck the left rear of the trailer of a parked big rig, the CHP reported.
That crash caused the SUV to ricochet back into traffic lanes and collide with the rear of another big rig, the officials said. The right front passenger of the SUV died at the scene.
He was identified as 36-year-old Andres Mercado, who died from blunt traumatic injuries, the Medical Examiner’s office reported. His relationship to the driver was unclear.
Guadalupe Mercado suffered major injuries and paramedics took him to Pomona Valley Hospital, where he was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence, the CHP reported. He remained under medical care. There were no other injuries.
The CHP issued a SigAlert at 11:03 p.m., closing several lanes of the eastbound freeway while they investigated the crash. Lanes were reopened just before 3 a.m. Saturday.