![The Kern County Coroner's office called him John Doe Thursday, Jan. 11 when rescue personnel were finally able to extract the remains of the drive of this big rig from tangled wreckage that burst into flames about 6:30 p.m., within half a mile of the Tejon Industrial Complex. There is an increasing number of big rig accidents on this stretch of the Interstate 5. [Meyer photo]](https://mountainenterprise.com/fds/images/story/fs_123.jpg)
The Kern County Coroner's office called him John Doe Thursday, Jan. 11 when rescue personnel were finally able to extract the remains of the drive of this big rig from tangled wreckage that burst into flames about 6:30 p.m., within half a mile of the Tejon Industrial Complex. There is an increasing number of big rig accidents on this stretch of the Interstate 5. [Meyer photo]
The operator of a Freightliner tractor trailer driving in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 north of Grapevine Road, near the big rig weighing station and Tejon Industrial Complex, collided with another big rig tractor and burst into flames Thursday, Jan. 11 at about 6:32 p.m. The second truck continued driving, according to sheriff’s deputies, but all southboud lanes of the I-5 were closed for over an hour as the rig was engulfed in flames.
Two lanes were reopened at about 7:40 p.m. Fire damage was extensive.
Donato Valadez, 56 of La Puente, California was identified as the owner/ operator from a wallet and papers found near the scene. His remains were verified by dental records.
This is part of the January 19, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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