Three killed in Desert Center fiery big rig crash identified
The county coroner released the names of three people, including a Beaumont father and his teenage son, killed in a fiery Desert Center crash that also seriously injured the man’s
young granddaughter.
Nicholas Dearinger, 16, and Donald Dearinger, 52, were killed, along with Dale Phillips, last Thursday morning when their semi-truck crashed into his stopped big rig.
Phillips, 60, of Orange, was fatally injured while outside his truck, California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Radford said.
The crash happened shortly after 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 26 on the 10 freeway just east of Eagle Mountain Road in Desert Center.
California Highway Patrol said a Kaiser Transport Inc. truck was parked on the shoulder of the freeway when it was struck by a Container Transfer Corp. truck heading eastbound.
The father and son died at the scene of the crash, which left one of the trucks engulfed in flames.
Donald Dearinger’s granddaughter, Zoey, was ejected and was airlifted to a medical center with major injuries, Radford said.
Read: Driver who witnessed deadly big rig crash speaks out
We looked into both truck companies crash and their federal safety records from the past two years, including ratings and any past violations.
Read: I-Team investigates deadly big-rig crash on I-10 near Desert Center
According to federal safety records, Container Transfer Corp. had three unsafe driving violations including having an un-authorized passenger onboard.
While Kaiser Transport Inc. out of out of Janesville, Wisconsin, had been in two crashes, none with injuries and racked up 24 unsafe driving violations, the majority for speeding.
CHP officers say there have been nine deadly crashes this year, on the stretch of interstate 10 between Dillon Road in the East Valley and Desert Center.
Dearinger’s family created a YouCaring page to cover funeral expenses and medical costs for the Zoey.
If you would like to donate, click here.
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
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