Driver Collides With Semi, Dies

The driver was traveling too fast for conditions, according to CHP

A woman lost control on Interstate-805 and died when her car went underneath a semi-truck on Tuesday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The woman was driving her Mazda 6 sedan in the number four lane on northbound Interstate-805 near Telegraph Canyon Rd. and was trying to pass the semi, which was in the number three lane, just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to CHP.

Witnesses told officers that they saw the car fishtailing.

โ€œIt appears that the Mazda went out of control and hit the front of the truck and then bounced off of that and continued to spin, and then ended up wedging underneath the trailer behind it,โ€ said Officer Art Athens.  

The woman suffered significant head trauma and died at the scene.

โ€œFor the vehicles to collide, it looks like speed was a factor in terms of it being too fast for the conditions,โ€ said Officer Athens.

Heโ€™s encouraging drivers to slow down and drive safely.

โ€œSo, even though it was below the posted freeway speed, everybodyโ€™s got to drive with regard for the conditions and keep your speed down,โ€ said Officer Athens. โ€œWhat the safe speed was yesterday when it was dry is no longer the safe speed today.โ€

Two lanes were blocked, backing up traffic for miles. The Sig Alert was canceled at 12.45 p.m.

The driver of the semi-truck was not injured. The truck was empty and en route to Yuma to pick up a load, according to CHP.

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