CHP investigators believe at least three other motorists may also have been speeding when they crashed. Among them was Hugo Raymundo Rodriguez, 38, who was killed instantly when his truck crashed in the tunnel. His young son, Isaiah, survived the collision but died when flames consumed his father's truck, the prosecutor's memo said. A third victim, Ricardo Cibrian Baltazar, 39, also died in the fire.
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Truck had role in I-5 inferno
The chain-reaction crash that took three lives in '07 began with a speeding rig and a faulty brake, CHP says.
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As drivers entered the tunnel, flashing signs warned them of the slippery conditions inside. But prosecutors said that one of the signs did not have its warning lights activated at the time of the collision.
Since the crash, Caltrans has taken steps to improve visibility inside the tunnel, coating it with reflective paint and installing a lighting system that simulates daylight. Spokeswoman Judy Gish said the agency has also reduced the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph, though the limit in the area where Reyes crashed remains 55 mph.
A CHP spokesman said investigators are unlikely to recommend any other criminal prosecutions in connection with the crash. A final report on its causes is expected to be completed in January.
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jack.leonard@latimes.com
