Trucker’s Cigarette Almost His Last

Smoking may nearly have cost John Fujimagari his life Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol reported. But his close call had nothing to do with lung cancer.

The 32-year-old resident of Alberta, Canada, was driving a tractor-trailer in the southbound truck lane of the Golden State Freeway near the Balboa Boulevard overpass at about 2 a.m. when he became distracted while trying to light a cigarette, authorities said.

The truck, traveling about 65 m.p.h., drifted to the right, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Robert Callahan said. First it collided with an empty car parked on the shoulder, knocking the smaller vehicle 150 feet down a nearby gully and nearly demolishing it in the process, Callahan said.

The out-of-control truck continued about 75 feet before barreling down the gully and then back up the other side and through a chain-link fence. It finally stopped with its mangled front axle resting on a railroad track, Callahan said.

Despite serious damage to the truck, Fujimagari emerged unscathed.

“He even called us on his cellular phone to say he was all right and to give us his exact location,” Callahan said. “He was visibly shaken . . . but he was very businesslike.”

Fujimagari’s life may have been saved because the trailer was empty. “If he had been loaded with 80,000 pounds, he might still be in the bottom of that gully,” Callahan said.

The driver was not cited although charges may be filed when the investigation is complete, Callahan said.

Callahan did not know if Fujimagari managed to light the cigarette.