Published by Raymond Ray
Article and photos by Scott Limpus
At 3:38 pm on Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was dispatched to a two-vehicle head-on traffic collision on Highway 18 at Highway 330 in Running Springs. The Mountain Reporter was first on scene and found Vehicle #1, a white Chevy Silverado pickup in the gore point downbound on the 330, and Vehicle #2, a Gray Nissan Pathfinder SUV, blocking upbound on the 330. Both vehicles had moderate damage and were disabled. All occupants were out of the vehicles and stated that there were no injuries.
Vehicle #1, with a family of 3, was traveling Westbound on Highway 18 from Big Bear and as it merged onto Southbound Highway 330, it slid across the road and hit Vehicle #2 head-on. Vehicle #2, with a family of 5, was traveling Northbound on Highway 330 headed to Big Bear. Both vehicles were traveling approximately 35 miles per hour at the time of the collision. Heavy snow was falling at the time of the accident, and neither vehicle had tire chains installed.
Due to heavy traffic and multiple accidents on the mountain, CHP was only able to respond with one Unit, and tow trucks had an extended response time. A Caltrans Supervisor and The Mountain Reporter assisted with traffic control and allowed the two families to wait in their vehicles until the tow trucks arrived. The upbound lane of Highway 330 was blocked for over an hour, and both Hiway 330 and Highway 18 were blocked at times as the tow trucks worked to clear the wreckage.
CHP is investigating the incident, but speed and weather conditions are likely to be factors.
