I-10 'Sleepy Driver' Crash Leaves 1 Person Injured In Whitewater

WHITEWATER, CA — One person suffered minor injuries Monday when a motorist allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel and struck a big rig on eastbound Interstate 10 in Whitewater.

The crash was reported about 10 a.m. Monday near the Whitewater off- ramp, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

An 80-year-old man from Palm Desert was driving a Mercedes GLC 300 and traveling at an unspecified rate of speed when the motorist fell asleep behind the wheel, lost control of the vehicle and side-swiped a Peterbilt semi truck, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the big rig, identified only as a 40-year-old man from Coachella, swerved to avoid the Mercedes a second time but over-corrected, causing the big rig's trailer to overturn. The Mercedes eventually came to rest in a field.

The trailer temporarily blocked the freeway's No. 4 lane.

One person was taken to a hospital, and there were no reports of a hazardous material spill. It was unclear if the injured person was the driver who fell asleep while driving.

Driving under the influence was not suspected to be a factor in the collision, the CHP said.