Stanislaus County, CA : Big rig driver killed after a crash off Highway 99 in Turlock on Thursday morning, May 5, 2016

Authorities on Thursday afternoon identified the big rig driver killed in a crash just off Highway 99 in Turlock that morning.

Sukhmander Gill, 65, of Livingston was the driver, according to the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office.

Gill was driving a Freightliner big rig north on Highway 99 when the accident occurred just before 10 a.m., said Officer Eric Parsons of the California Highway Patrol.

“For an unknown reason, the driver of the vehicle allowed the big rig to travel from the slow lane onto the shoulder,” Parsons said. “It collided with a sound wall and ended up colliding with three additional vehicles.”

Gill suffered severe injuries and was declared dead at the scene, Parsons said.

The three cars the big rig hit were parked; one, a Toyota Tundra, was occupied, Parsons said. The driver of the Tundra was taken by ambulance to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock with minor injuries.

The area is home to the Avena Bella apartment complex behind the Save Mart shopping center on Lander.

After leaving the freeway, the big rig went through the sound wall, a chain-link fence and the cars, also hitting two carports, Parsons said. However, it stopped about 10 feet short of the apartments.

Parsons said investigators were measuring the scene and gathering information, but did not have any indicators as to what caused the crash.

Source :
Authorities identify big rig driver killed in Turlock crash