The driver of a box truck who was killed when his vehicle slammed into the rear of a tractor-trailer on the Pomona (60) Freeway in Jurupa Valley was identified Wednesday as a 76-year-old Norwalk man.
Jesus Meno was fatally injured about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday on the westbound 60, between Milliken Avenue and the Interstate 15 interchange, at the boundary separating Jurupa Valley and Ontario.
California Highway Patrol Officer Juan Quintero said that Meno was traveling at freeway speeds in the No. 3 lane when traffic ahead of him slowed.
“For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the box truck was unable to safely slow or stop his vehicle, and the front of the box truck collided with the rear of the semi trailer,” Quintero said Tuesday. “The force of the impact inflicted fatal injuries to the driver, who was the sole occupant of the box truck.”
Riverside County Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene six minutes later.
The semi operator was not injured, and no other vehicles were involved.
Because of the amount of wreckage and spilled fuel from the 25-foot-long box truck, CHP officers shut down four of five lanes, squeezing all westbound motorists into the carpool lane. The northbound I-15 transition to the 60 was also closed.
Caltrans and hazardous materials crews spent over two hours clearing the mess, while officers conducted a preliminary investigation. All lanes were reopened by 4:20 p.m.