Four Killed in 215 Freeway Crash

Four people in their 20s were killed Friday morning in a crash on a transition road to the 215 Freeway.

The crash occurred on the transition from the eastbound 10 Freeway in the Colton area. Investigators said the car crashed into a pole on the side of the transition road.

The crash killed the 21-year-old driver and his passengers, a 20-year-old woman and two men, ages 21 and 24, all from San Bernardino, authorities said.

The 1999 BMW wrapped around the sign pole shortly after 2 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Steven Robinson said.

The patrol said speed likely was a factor. Investigators believe that the car was doing more than 65 mph in the fast lane when it veered left and the driver over-corrected and lost control.

The BMW spun across traffic lanes, struck a curb on the right shoulder and flipped. It apparently was skidding on the edge of the roof when it slammed into a pole holding up a freeway sign, Robinson told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
       
"It was almost sheared in half, wrapped around the pole," Robinson said.

Only the driver was wearing a seatbelt, he said.

"I can't say whether the seatbelts would have saved them," Robinson said. "The sheer impact on the roof was a factor in the fatalities."

The transition road was closed during the crash investigation.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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