Behind the Badge
Fullerton Police are investigating why an 18-wheeler suddenly veered across lanes of eastbound Imperial Highway early Sunday and slammed into an occupied apartment building, sending the driver and passenger to a trauma center and three residents to the hospital.
The collision happened at about 6:03 a.m. April 30 in the 600 block of Imperial Highway, the FPD said in a news release.
The 18-wheeler did not appear to be going over the posted speed limit, according to a preliminary investigation.
The male truck driver, 44, and a female passenger, 42, were both transported to local trauma centers for treatment.
Three occupants in one of the apartments were transported to a local area hospital with minor injuries as a precaution: a 40-year-old male, a 40-year-old female, and their 2-year-old daughter.
Five apartments in the complex were evacuated and have been deemed uninhabitable due to safety concerns.
Fullerton Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue also responded to the scene. USAR crews joined FPD personnel to evacuate occupants of the apartment complex due to concerns over the building’s structural integrity.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to contact Fullerton Police Accident Investigator Corp. S. Bailor at (714) 738-6813. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1(855) TIP-OCCS or can visit their website at occrimestoppers.org
FPD photo
