A 62-year-old man was killed Tuesday in a multi-vehicle collision that left six other people with minor to moderate injuries on eastbound Interstate 10 in Thousand Palms.
The crash was reported shortly before 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, west of Washington Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP officials said a big rig being driven at an unconfirmed speed on eastbound I-10 veered to the left of the roadway for unknown reasons, crashed through the guard rail and slammed into a cement truck and a Jeep on the westbound side of the freeway. The big rig also hit four vehicles as it veered across the eastbound lanes.
The driver of the cement truck, identified only as a 62-year-old man from Yucca Valley, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the big rig, identified only as a 38-year-old man from Menifee, sustained major injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Additionally, three people sustained moderate injuries and two others suffered minor injuries. All of them were taken to either Desert Regional or Eisenhower Medical Center.
Alcohol and/or drugs were not suspected to be a factor in the crash, according to the CHP.
The investigation was ongoing, and anyone with additional information was asked to call 760-772-5300.