Accident Update: Police say driver probably at fault for accident on bridge
Update 4-5: Palm Springs Police say a preliminary investigation into the crash shows the driver of the big rig at fault for a sudden and unsafe turning movement. There are several witness statements that were taken by other officers and those reports have not yet been submitted, says Palm Springs Police Spokesman Sgt. William Hutchinson.
The driver was not arrested, is not suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol and according to the primary report, a cell phone was not a factor.
11:46 update: Eastbound lanes on highway 111 in north palm springs are now open.
8:45 update: Westbound lanes of traffic are now open. Crews are on the eastbound lanes using a crane to attempt to lift the burned semi truck and trailer out of the wash.
6:00 update: PSPD confirms that driver of truck has been taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A witness to the crash pulled the driver out of the wreckage.
5:30 update: Palm Springs Police say that Highway 111 is shut down near Windy Point until further notice.
Palm Springs Police have shut down Highway 111 in North Palm Springs after a big rig reportedly caught on fire.
According to Palm Springs Police the big rig crashed into a highway bridge leaving the truck partially hanging off the overpass and blocking lanes, but no injuries were reported.
The crash happened around 4 p.m. on eastbound Highway 111, north of Gateway Drive, said Lt. Melissa Desmarais.
According to the lieutenant, the truck “left the roadway,” causing damage to the bridge. The truck also briefly caught on fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished by city fire crews.
Authorities completely closed the highway, causing traffic to build up in both directions. As of 5 p.m., Desmarais said police had both eastbound lanes of the highway blocked, but were working to open up a lane for westbound traffic.
The incident is on Highway 111 near Windy Point. Police are diverting outbound traffic at Gateway Drive. They are working to open at least one inbound lane.
Check back for updates.
