A man driving a pickup was killed Thursday morning in a crash with a big rig on the southbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway in Palmdale.
Leonard Mompeller, 35, of Palmdale died at the scene of the crash that occurred near Avenue O about 2:55 a.m., according the coroner’s office and the California Highway Patrol.
According to the CHP, Mompeller’s GMC pickup rear-ended the big rig and stopped in the No. 3 lane. The big rig kept going.
The impact ripped the bumper from the rear of the trailer of the semi, and authorities were on the lookout for a big rig with major rear end damage, the CHP said. Two lanes were blocked until about 6:15 a.m. while an investigation was conducted.
Anyone with information on the crash was urged to call the CHP Antelope Valley Area office at 661-948-8541.