VICTORVILLE, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> What started as a pursuit of a speeding big rig through the Mojave Desert ended with the big rig catching fire Tuesday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The incident started westbound on Interstate 40 near the Hidden Spring Road exit in the town of Daggett, on Tuesday about 4:55pm on August 3, 2021. A California Highway Patrol Officer Barstow station initiated a stop due to a speeding violation. The Officer attempted to stop the big rig, but the driver accelerated and led to a pursuit.
The driver of the big rig with a 55 foot trailer attach was later identified Deon Lamar Jones a 34-year-old, a resident of San Leandro, CA. Officials said he went from westbound I-40 and transitioned on to southbound I-15 in Barstow. Deon was driving and reportedly threw trash and unknown items out of the cab while driving recklessly. CHP threw out multiple ‘Stop Sticks’ which slashed the tires on the big rig. At one point, officials say he was riding on his rims, tearing up the Interstate. The tires and parts of the big rig started to catch fire, eventually igniting the cab. Deon was forced to stop in the traffic lanes just before Stoddard Wells Road exit.
Deon was taken into custody and was later booked for VC 2800.2(A) Evading, VC23152(F) Driving Under the Influence, and PC69(A) Obstructing a Peace Officer. He is being held at the High Desert Detention Center on a $125,000 bail.
Southbound lanes of the I-15 were temporarily closed for hours as firefighters from Victorville Fire Department and the Apple Valley Fire Department worked to extinguish the flame. The big rig cab and the 55 foot trailer burned to the ground. Caltrans and a tow truck company was out cleaning up the debris for hours. Only the right shoulder was open. This caused traffic to backup for about 10 miles at one point.
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