CHP Says Moving Van Driver Was Distracted Before Crash
STOCKTON (CBS13) – All lanes of Interstate 5 in Stockton are now open after a distracted driver lost control of his big rig, hit a guard rail and overturned exploding in fire and destroying the contents of someone's home.
Several lanes of Interstate 5 nearEight Mile Roadwere blocked as fire fighters worked to put out the fire that erupted after a big rig flipped at about 8:13 a.m and began leaking diesel fuel.
The CHP says the driver of the moving van admitted he wasn't paying attention when he crashed nearly destroying all of the family's belongings he was in charge of transporting.
Fire fighters picked through the smoking ruble of clothes, appliances and furniture trying to save what they could. But there was also irreplaceable items like stuffed animals, pictures and family mementos strewn across the side of the road.
"It's one of worst ones I've seen in a while been doing this 30 years this one's pretty tore up not much left," said Kirk Tutor of J & E Truck Service.
Investigators say the driver of the moving van coming fromTexasadmitted he was reaching for something and lost track of where he was on the road.
The driver and his passenger were taken to a nearby hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Cleanup crews were able to salvage a small pile of the family's possessions.
The CHP says the moving company is on the hook to pay for all the cleanup and repairs because their driver is at fault.
