Deadly Wrong-Way Crash On 210 Freeway Devastates Fontana Family
CLAREMONT (CBSLA) — A family is heartbroken after the driver of a stolen truck sped the wrong-way down the 210 Freeway in Claremont, killing a Fontana man Monday.
A clerk at a 7-Eleven in San Bernardino said a father was inside for just seconds when a woman got into his pick up and drove off with his two-year-old child inside.
About 10 minutes later, CHP said that same woman, 28-year-old Nicole Thibault, of Santa Clarita, slammed into four vehicles on the 210 Freeway head-on. One of the drivers was Daniel Castillo, a 69-year-old retired manager.
His wife of 29 years said she was too upset to speak on-camera, but showed CBS2/KCAL9 his business card, saying he had recently fulfilled his dream of starting a second career as a real-estate agent.
"The way it happened ... It's hard to accept that," co-worker Paul Piedrahita said.
Before the crash, authorities say Thibault dropped off the child in the backseat of the truck on the sidewalk. The child was reportedly still strapped in a car seat.
The drivers of the other vehicles involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Thibault was in critical condition after the crash. Her condition was later updated to stable.
She had not yet been charged with a crime at the time of this report.
According to jail records, Thibault has been arrested four times in 13 months, most recently in Santa Clarita just three weeks ago. CHP did not have details on those arrests.
An investigation is ongoing.