A Tracy man whose car was sitting in the slow lane of Interstate 5 near Westley when it was hit by a big rig early Thursday was found dead in the driver seat. The incident occurred during the 1 a.m. hour in the southbound lanes near the Ingram Creek Road exit, according to the California Highway Patrol. At 1:15 a.m., a passerby reported to CHP that a Lexus was sitting in the slow lane. Ten minutes later, it was reported that a big rig rear ended the Lexus.
A man in the driver seat of the Lexus, with his seat belt fastened, was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not yet been identified. CHP Officer Tom Olsen said it is unknown why the Lexus driver stopped in the roadway. He said the driver never called CHP to report his vehicle disabled or any other issue. Olsen did not know if the vehicle’s hazards or any other lights were on at the time of the crash or when the passerby called police.
It remains under investigation whether drugs or alcohol were a factor. The driver of the big rig, a New Jersey man, was not injured.