Fiery Collision Was 10th Truck Crash at Site Since ’96

Last week’s fiery crash that killed two men at a freeway interchange was the 10th truck accident at the site since construction began there in late 1996, according to Caltrans statistics released Thursday.

The figures show a dramatic surge in accidents involving trucks leaving the westbound Riverside Freeway for the northbound Santa Ana Freeway; none occurred at the location in the three years prior to construction.

“When you’re changing a roadway and changing what people have in front of them, you have more problems,” said Sgt. Mike Brey of the California Highway Patrol. “A roadway under construction is not going to be as good as a finished road.”

Caltrans spokeswoman Deborah Harris said she knows of no changes made to the ramp as a result of the surge in truck accidents. Officials for the agency say the road is safe--particularly when motorists follow the posted speed limits.

Complaints from motorists that the road is difficult to navigate did prompt the agency to add signs to the interchange in the last few months, Harris said.

The construction, scheduled to last another two years, is part of a $1-billion widening of the Santa Ana Freeway.

Truck accidents at the interchange since construction began include six in 1997 and three last year. Three involved speeding and two were attributed to improper turns; none was fatal, Harris said.

Last Friday’s explosive crash in which a tanker truck carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel collided with a car is still under investigation. The accident killed the driver of the truck, James R. Thompson, 44, of Lytle Creek. Also killed was Glendale resident Sarkis Kostanian, 35, who had borrowed his neighbor’s Ford Crown Victoria sedan to run an errand.

The horrific crash occurred when Thompson merged from the Riverside Freeway onto the Santa Ana Freeway. His truck toppled into Kostanian’s car and exploded, sending up flames that were visible for miles. Kostanian, whose body was burned beyond recognition, died at the scene. Thompson suffered burns to more than 98% of his body and died Saturday afternoon in a hospital.

Witnesses told CHP officers that Thompson was exceeding the 25-mph speed limit posted in the construction zone. A final accident report is expected in 60 days, Brey said. The CHP officer emphasized that the highway patrol investigation does not postpone Caltrans’ own inquiry into the safety of the accident scene.

Both victims had clean driving records, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Dave Escher, general manager of San Bernardino County-based Advantage Tank Lines, where Thompson was employed, had no comment Thursday on the accident.

“We’re grieving for both of the families,” he said.

Kostanian, who was buried Wednesday, is survived by his wife of four years, Anait, and their 3-year-old daughter.