USPS Driver Killed In Fiery Crash On 22 Freeway in Garden Grove

ORANGE COUNTY, CA -- A U.S. Postal Service truck driver was killed in a fiery, three-vehicle early Sunday morning crash that involved a big rig going over the center divider on the Garden Grove (22) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A 26-year-old Irvine man driving the car that started the crash was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence, the CHP said.

The crash occurred just before 4 a.m. on the eastbound freeway at Valley View Street in Garden Grove, and another vehicle as well as the big rig caught fire. The big rig driver swerved to avoid the car that went out of control and hit the divider, sending the semi-truck into the postal service truck, killing the driver of that vehicle.

A SigAlert was issued at 4:13 a.m., closing the westbound and eastbound lanes of the freeway at Springdale Street. All lanes were reopened by Sunday afternoon.

A representative from the coroner's office called out to the scene at 4:43 a.m. pronounced the victim dead. His name was withheld pending notification of kin.

The big rig driver declined medical treatment.

City News Service contributed to this report.