1 dead in fiery big rig crash on 22 Freeway in Garden Grove; car driver suspected of DUI
GARDEN GROVE – One person was killed in a fiery crash early Sunday after a big rig tried to avoid hitting a wrecked Honda sitting in the slow lane of the eastbound 22 Freeway in Garden Grove.
The driver of the car, a 26-year-old man from Irvine, was arrested in on suspicion of DUI, said CHP Officer Duane Graham.
The crash, east of Valley View Street, happened just before 4 a.m. A Hazmat team was sent to the site because of the fuel spill from the semi, and both sides of the freeway were expected to be closed until at least midday.
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The eastbound lanes of the 22 were closed at the 405 Freeway and the westbound lanes were closed at Beach Boulevard, Graham said.
The freeway lanes were littered with mail and packages from the big rig, which had a delivery contract with the U.S. Postal Service, according to Graham.
The incident began when the Honda, heading east, veered off to the right, hit a sign post and guard rail and spun around, landing in the slow lane of the freeway facing the wrong direction. The driver got out of the car.
The big rig swerved to avoid hitting the car but collided with the front end, then slammed into the center divider, overturned and burst into flames, Graham said.
He said the Irvine man was the sole occupant of the car. It wasn’t disclosed if more than one person was in the big rig. An investigation into the crash continued Sunday morning.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.