News & Columns > Dave Henderson > Highway 330 Reopens After Three-Vehicle Accident (Update)

Highway 330 Reopens After Three-Vehicle Accident (Update)

By Dave Henderson
Monday, September 21, 2009

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Update - Monday 1:45 p.m.

Running Springs, CA - A three-vehicle accident shortly after 8 a..m. Monday closed Highway 330 between Running Springs and Highland for almost six hours. The road reopened at 1:44 p.m.

A 2000 Freightliner Super Dump Truck sits on its side on Highway 330 following a three-vehicle accident. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

California Highway Patrol officer Wally Wood told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net a 2000 Freightliner Super Dump Truck, registered to MJM Trucking of Ontario, sideswiped two upbound vehicles before overturning and dumping its load of dirt on the roadway.

The cab of the 2000 Freightliner dump truck blocks a portion of Highway 330 after being involved in an accident Monday morning that closed the roadway between Running Springs and Highland for an extended period of time. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

"No one was seriously injured in the accident," Wood explained. "The driver of the dump truck, 51-year-old Larry LaFrenz from Alta Loma, said he thought he was having brake problems about the middle passing lane about 8 a.m.

"LaFrenz estimated he was going about 50-55 miles per hour when he sideswiped a yellow 1993 F-250 pick-up," officer Wood noted. "He also sideswiped a gold 2006 Infiniti before striking the mountain and overturning in the roadway."

Caltrans, Running Springs Fire and California Highway Patrol units were involved in the accident of Highway 330 involving an overturned dump truck (fare left) and two other vehicles. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Running Springs Fire responded to the accident to check out LaFrenz and the drivers of the other two vehicles. A unit also stood by until the truck was up righted because of a small diesel spill.

Caltrans crews offload dirt from an overturned dump truck on Highway 330. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

The yellow utility truck was driven by 46-year-old Louis Reisig from Woodland Hills. The driver of the Infiniti was identified as 50-year-old Patricia Russell from Redlands. Russell is a teacher at Charles Hoffman Elementary School in Running Springs.

Debris from a 2000 Freightliner dump truck covered the roadway on Highway 330 during a crash Monday morning. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

The dump truck was carrying about 10-12 yards of dirt from a roadway construction project on Green Valley Lake Road, according to the CHP.

Officer Wood explained LaFrenz had driven up and down Highway 330 several times over the past few days without incident so was fairly familiar with the roadway.

A wrecker moves into position to help remove a dump truck operated by MJM Trucking from Ontario from an accident scene on Highway 330. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

The CHP is still conducting its investigation but initial reports indicated LaFrenz was not impaired in any way at the time of the crash.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Senior News Editor Michael P. Neufeld contributed to this story.

Original Article

Running Springs, CA — Highway 330 is closed in both directions from Highland to Running Springs due to a collision involving a dump truck. The dump truck reportedly lost its brakes and crossed over into the oncoming lane colliding with three passenger vehicles. Scanner reports indicate there was only one minor injury.

(Photo by Terri Kasinga - CalTrans.)

Highway 330 is expected to be closed for 4 hours for the investigation and clean up of a diesel spill.

A RIMOFTHEWORLD.net reporter is en-route. Additional information will follow as it becomes available.

This article was first published on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 9:44 am. This article has been viewed 4150 times.

Dave Henderson is the Vice-President of Operations for RIMOFTHEWORLD.net and it's parent company Vicinitas, LLC. Dave is the commercial and operational manager for the site.

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