The coroner has yet to identify the truck driver killed when his big rig crashed with a disabled big rig and burst into flames on the northbound Orange (57) Freeway in San Dimas.
The crash occurred at 5:26 a.m. Saturday in the right lane of the northbound Orange Freeway north of Arrow Highway, said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Maehr.
The brakes of the 1988 Peterbilt tractor driven by 57-year-old Johnny E. Potter of Huntington Beach locked up “for an unknown reason,” causing the big rig to stop in the slow lane, Maehr said.
About one to two minutes later, the driver of the 2013 International tractor-trailor rig apparently failed to see the disabled truck ahead and crashed into the rig, he said.
The International tractor “burst into flames and became fully engulfed” with the driver still inside, Maehr said. Los Angeles County firefighters pronounced him dead at the scene.
Potter was transported to a hospital with moderate injuries, he said.
About 75 gallons of diesel fuel and engine oil spilled at the crash site and had to be cleaned up, Maehr said.
All lanes were closed for the investigation and cleanup and re-opened at 1 p.m., he said.
— City News Service