A routine drive turned tragic on State Route 60 in the San Gorgonio Pass area on Monday, when a tire dislodged from a BMW and struck a Toyota Sienna, killing the Toyota's driver. The incident, which unfolded just after 11 a.m. near Jack Rabbit Trail, involved a silver BMW 328i heading eastbound when its left rear tire came loose and flew over the center divider, ABC7 reported. The tire collided with the windshield and roof of a white Toyota Sienna traveling in the opposite direction.
The driver of the Sienna, a 68-year-old man from Los Angeles, was unable to maintain control of his vehicle after the tire's impact, causing him to first crash into the center divider wall before landing on an embankment, FOX LA stated. Authorities pronounced the man dead at the scene. Also involved was a 54-year-old female passenger in the Toyota, who was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Meanwhile, the 54-year-old Riverside man behind the wheel of the BMW that lost its tire was not injured in the event.
The California Highway Patrol has confirmed these details and is actively conducting an investigation into the root cause of this fatal crash. They encourage anyone with information to get in touch. CBS News Los Angeles specified that CHP's San Gorgonio Pass Area office is the point of contact for further details or any leads that could help piece together the circumstances surrounding this incident. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department paramedics were the ones to declare the driver of the Toyota deceased at the site of the crash.
The CHP has not yet released the identity of the deceased, as the investigation is ongoing. The crash has raised concerns over vehicle maintenance and road safety, as loose tires becoming airborne create hazards that drivers are often powerless to quickly avoid. As of now, the CHP has not indicated any charges or cited any vehicle code violations, but their efforts to thoroughly understand how a mundane drive turned suddenly fatal continue, according to information obtained by ABC7.
