CAJON PASS, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> A Ford Explore caught fire after the SUV rear-ended a big rig semi trailer on Interstate 15 early Tuesday morning.

California Highway Patrol and San Bernardino Fire Department received calls of a crash. Reported on northbound Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass just after Kenwood Avenue. This happened at about 1:18am Tuesday morning on March 9, 2021.

On arrival, firefighters located the SUV under the back of a semi trailer and on fire with the driver trapped inside. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flame. They used the jaws of life and other tools to extricate the driver from the vehicle.

Firefighters requested a medical helicopter to transport the driver to a local hospital. The medical helicopter landed at the scene. Mercy Air #22 airlifted the driver to Arrowhead Medical Center with serious injuries.

The vehicles involved in the crash were a semi flat bed trailer and a blue Ford Explore SUV.

It is unclear what caused the crash.

This incident will be under investigation by the California Highway Patrol Inland Office.

CHP says additional information will be updated as it becomes available.

UPDATE the driver has been checked out, is alert and talking. Also has been reported he has a broken hip, a broken finger and some scratches. Lucky to be alive.

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