On the morning of Friday, a severe rockslide caused significant trauma after large boulders tumbled onto Highway 18 in San Bernardino County, resulting in a van being crushed and its driver being rushed to the hospital. The incident, which unfolded near mile marker 19 close to Crestline in the San Bernardino County Mountains, prompted an immediate response from emergency services. San Bernardino County Fire reported that a technical rescue was launched at the scene of the rockslide, with one patient having to be extricated and transported by air ambulance.
CREST FOREST: #SBCoFD units are on-scene of a Technical Rescue on Hwy 18 at mile marker 19. Vehicle impacted by possible rockslide. One pt being extricated and transported by air ambulance. Expect delays on Hwy 18. Follow @CHPInland & @Caltrans8 for road closure updates. pic.twitter.com/t2iygJID8b
— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) October 18, 2024
A substantial disruption followed as the highway was temporarily blocked, with traffic being paused which caused delays along Highway 18 and an associated closure of Highway 330. As the situation developed, images sourced from the scene showed the extent of the damage, with one vehicle appearing to be severely impacted beneath the weight of the mountain's debris. Caltrans officials worked to resume traffic, managing to clear all lanes by late afternoon, as confirmed by KTLA.
The victim, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, was said to be in critical condition, having sustained life-threatening injuries from the incident. Despite the quick action of emergency services, the full extent of the person's injuries remains a poignant reminder of the unpredictable power of nature. According to CBS News Los Angeles, there were no passengers in the vehicle at the time of the rockslide.
