Trucker’s Family Suing Caltrans Over Fatal Crash

The family of a truck driver killed in a fiery March accident at the interchange of the Santa Ana and Riverside freeways filed suit against Caltrans last week alleging the agency had failed to properly design and mark the ramp where the crash took place.

The crash occurred in a construction zone that is part of the $1-billion widening of the Santa Ana Freeway.

The lawsuit--which seeks damages ranging from funeral expenses and medical care to loss of support--was filed on behalf of the estate of James R. Thompson, 44, of Lytle Creek. Thompson was behind the wheel of a tanker-truck carrying 8,000 pounds of diesel and gasoline fuel when the truck toppled, crushing another car and bursting into flames.

Witnesses watched Thompson run from his cab engulfed in flames. He was taken to the hospital with burns over 98% of his body and died the next day.

Also killed in the accident was Sarkis Kostanian, a 35-year-old Glendale man, who was survived by his wife and 3-year-old daughter.

Records released by the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans in the weeks after the March 12 accident showed the interchange had been the site of a dramatic surge in crashes in the three years the road had been under construction.

Accidents at the site had more than doubled in the two years the ramp had been under construction. In that time, 33 crashes--10 involving trucks--occurred on the connector between the westbound Riverside Freeway and the northbound Santa Ana freeway.

In the three years before construction the ramp was the site of 14 accidents, none involving trucks, records showed.

The fatal March crash sent flames shooting into the air, scorching the pavement and leaving portions of the Santa Ana Freeway closed for much of the next day.

“As a result of the defects and the dangerous conditions of the 1/8roadway 3/8, including the connector road, James Richard Thompson lost control of his truck, which overturned and burst into flames,” the suit says.

The suit alleges Caltrans, as well as co-defendant M.C.M. Construction Inc., “caused, created or allowed dangerous conditions to exist.”

A claim by the Thompson estate, which would benefit his two daughters, was rejected by Caltrans officials in late October. Caltrans officials said they had no comment about the lawsuit.

“At this point we choose not to comment on pending litigation,” Caltrans spokeswoman Deborah Harris said.