California Road Catastrophe: BP Clings to Life After Fender-Bender with Huge Boulder
Rockslide Wrecks a Car: A Surprising Twist on a Perilous Drive
When you’re driving on a remote mountainous road, you can never be too prepared for the unexpected. And sometimes, the unexpected can come from above. Take, for example, the recent rockslide on California Highway 18 that brought a 3 million-pound boulder crashing onto the road.
At Mile Marker 19, also known as The Narrows, a two-lane roadway was suddenly covered in rocks of all sizes. Amidst the rubble, a severely damaged Sprinter van was found, its front cabin completely crushed. You can’t help but wonder how such a massive rockslide could happen and what it must have been like for the driver who was lucky to escape with his life.
A Chaotic Scene Unfolds
According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the incident occurred on a foggy morning at around 8:00 a.m. Heavy fog may have contributed to the rockslide, making it even more challenging to respond to the situation. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) had to close Highway 18 in both directions, and it took all morning for responders and cleanup crews to clear the scene. Eventually, the road was reopened around 1:00 p.m., but not before the rescue efforts were well underway.
A Mysterious Passenger Van
From the limited images provided by the fire department, we can make out that the damaged van was a silver model with a high roofline and racks attached. There’s a large, rounded piece above the driver’s seat that could be a rooftop camera or a skylight. Unfortunately, there are no other identifying features, and the rear license plate is too blurry to read. The driver’s identity and local connection to the area remain a mystery.
A Harrowing Rescue
Miraculously, the driver was the only occupant extricated from the vehicle. Initially, responders had requested an air ambulance, but for reasons unknown, that call was canceled, and the man was transported to a local trauma center by ambulance and admitted in critical condition. There is no word on his current status or identity.
The incident is a sobering reminder of the perils of driving in treacherous terrain and the unpredictability of nature.
