3 Killed as Truck Plows Into 10 Cars

A truck-and-trailer rig plowed into slow-moving traffic on the Santa Ana Freeway in Santa Ana Saturday afternoon, careening into as many as 10 vehicles, killing three members of an Anaheim family and injuring at least seven others, authorities said.

The driver of the truck, identified as Jackie Dillard, 55, of Fresno, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving and manslaughter, according to a CHP dispatcher, who said it was not immediately known if Dillard was injured in the accident, which closed all but one northbound lane of the freeway for five hours.

“It was just a scene of absolute carnage,” said Tom Skelly, a battalion chief for the Santa Ana Fire Department. “There were at least 11 vehicles involved, including the . . . truck.”

CHP officials said the truck was moving at an estimated 50 to 55 m.p.h. on the southbound Interstate 5 in Santa Ana, and did not slow down as it approached traffic that had slowed to speeds of 10 to 15 m.p.h.

The dead, who were all riding in the same car, were identified as Bartolo Lozano, 66, the driver; his brother, Antonio Lozano, 69, and Antonio’s wife, Maria Lozano, 59. The brothers died at the scene. Maria Lozano died at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana.