73 TollRoad Fatality: Pickup Truck Collides With Caltrans Vehicle

IRVINE, CA — The driver of a Ford F250 pickup truck was killed on the southbound 73 Toll Road Thursday when he swerved into a Caltrans vehicle for unknown reasons. The vehicle burst into flames and exploded, according to authorities.

Traffic remained at a standstill at 3 p.m. for drivers heading southbound on the 73 below the 55.

The Toll Roads shared a full road closure on all lanes southbound 73 were closed at Bonita Canyon due to the crash. As of 2:30 p.m. traffic was backed up to Bison Avenue. Other avenues are also affected by the closure, from the 405 to the 55. Drivers should plan their routes with caution.

The collision was reported shortly after 1 p.m. just south of Bison Avenue, shutting down the southland lanes at MacArthur Boulevard, said California Highway Patrol Officer Paul Fox.

The driver of a Ford F250 swerved from the southbound lanes into a Caltrans grader in the center divider, Fox said. Investigators do not have any indications what caused the driver to swerve, Fox said.

"There were no skid marks, no vehicles cut him off," he said.

An SUV collided with the pickup, but that driver escaped injury and a passenger was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, Fox said.

The victim was about 30 years old, Fox said. The man's name was withheld pending family identification.

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