Two die as big rig hurtles off Grapevine, crashes on runaway truck ramp

A big rig driver and a passenger died Thursday in a crash on a northbound runaway truck ramp on the Interstate 5 Grapevine south of Bakersfield, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The fatalities occurred about 3:30 a.m. The 2007 Peterbilt was moving at a high rate of speed when the truck veered onto the escape ramp, traveled through the gravel pit intended to stop such vehicles, and slammed into the side of the mountain, the CHP said.

Cargo in the trailer launched through the cab, ejecting the passenger. Both the driver and the passenger died at the scene.

The CHP said weather was not a factor in the crash, which is under investigation.

The Kern County Coroner's Office on Thursday, Jan. 4 identified the driver and passenger as Fontana residents: Raul Fernandez Fernandez, 45, and Christine Amelia Fernandez, 42.

This story was originally published December 22, 2017 at 8:22 AM with the headline "Two die as big rig hurtles off Grapevine, crashes on runaway truck ramp."