Reported shooting led to shutdown of 10 Freeway in Fontana

A report of a highway shooting caused the complete shutdown of the 10 Freeway in Fontana early Friday morning, although authorities said they were unable to find evidence of gunfire.

Authorities were contacted about 4:09 a.m., when a crash was reported in the eastbound lanes near Citrus Avenue, said California Highway Patrol Officer Jesus Garcia. Moments later, the driver of a GMC Sierra called police and said he was shot at by another man in a white Chevrolet Silverado. The caller said his truck had collided with the Silverado, which then crashed into the center divider.

The CHP responded, and shut down the freeway.

When the driver of the Silverado did not respond to commands from authorities, Fontana police responded with an armored vehicle, Garcia said.

When authorities approached the Silverado, they found the driver not moving. They removed a dog from the car and found the man unconscious.

“We believe it could have been from the accident and that’s why he wasn’t responding to anything,” Garcia said. “He kind of woke up after they pulled him out of the car.”

The man was transported to a hospital for scrapes and a complaint of pain. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Garcia said.

The operator of the Sierra told authorities he had been driving when the Silverado pulled alongside. He said he heard “what he thought was shots fired,” Garcia said.

He also told authorities he saw a muzzle flash, Garcia said.

The driver said he swerved and lost control of the vehicle and then collided with the Silverado, which then crashed into the center divider.

“As far as the fired shot … there was no weapon located in the vehicle, no evidence of a weapon, no casings, no bullets, and there was no damage found on the victim’s vehicle from any type of a firearm,” Garcia said. “We still have to clarify the story.”

Westbound lanes reopened shortly after 6 a.m., according to a CHP traffic incident report. As of about 7:30 a.m., all lanes had reopened.

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UPDATES:

12:10 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout.

7:50 a.m.: This article has been updated with details on all lanes reopening.

6:30 a.m.: This article has been updated with details on lanes reopening.

This article was originally published at 6:15 a.m.