Truck driver dies at scene of crash on Interstate 5 near Westley

A 54-year-old big rig driver was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash on I-5 west of Westley on Thursday afternoon.

The driver, a Cherry Valley (Riverside County) resident, was southbound on I-5 at about 3:30 p.m. when he veered off the road.

The big rig went through a barbed wire fence and hit several fruit trees before the vehicle stopped, said California Highway Patrol Officer Thomas Olsen.

"He was found unconscious behind the wheel with no visible injuries," Olsen said.

Given his lack of injuries, investigators suspect the driver might have died from a medical issue but Olsen said his death is being treated as a traffic fatality until an autopsy proves otherwise.

This story was originally published October 26, 2017 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Truck driver dies at scene of crash on Interstate 5 near Westley."