Man Killed When Driver Falls Asleep
YORBA LINDA — A Riverside man was killed early Friday morning on the shoulder of the Riverside Freeway when he was struck by a car whose driver had apparently fallen asleep, the California Highway Patrol said.
Hiep Tran, 24, was pronounced dead two hours after the 2:25 a.m. accident, CHP Officer Angel Johnson said.
Johnson said Tran was driving east on the freeway when his car broke down and he was forced to pull over near the Coal Canyon off-ramp.
He was standing within the open door of his car, reaching inside to pop open his hood, when a car driven by Rory Bass, 35, of Corona, suddenly veered and slammed into Tran’s car, then struck him, pinning Tran between the car and the door, Johnson said.
Tran was rushed by ambulance to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where he was later pronounced dead from major internal and head injuries.
Bass, who suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, apparently triggered the accident, Johnson said, when he fell asleep while driving.
Johnson said she does not know whether Bass will be charged, adding that the case remains under investigation.
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