Tow Truck Struck by DUI Driver Jumps Freeway Center Divider Into Head-On Fatal Collision With Minivan

POMONA, CA, July 2 (KNN) — A driver arrested for DUI is allegedly the catalyst of an extended crash that involved a tow truck, a minivan and left one person fatally injured on the SR-71 Freeway Sunday night.

Pomona police officers and the California Highway Patrol along with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a major head-on traffic collision around 10 p.m. on the northbound 71, just north of Rio Rancho Road in Pomona.

Once on scene, fire department personnel transported one patient in critical condition to Pomona Valley Hospital. A second ambulance transported a total of four patients including a baby, also to Pomona Valley Hospital.

At approximately 12:45 a.m. Monday, one victim succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital, according to authorities.

Pomona PD reported the initial investigation indicates a flatbed tow truck, traveling northbound on the 71 freeway, was struck by another vehicle causing the truck to jump the center divider into oncoming southbound traffic where a family in a minivan collided head-on into the truck causing significant injury to several occupants.

“The driver of the original vehicle that had struck the tow truck, Mark Shoemate, was contacted by officers on scene and determined to be driving impaired under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested by Pomona police officers, and booked for Vehicular Manslaughter and Felony DUI,” stated the Pomona PD news release. Mark Shoemate is 33 years old and a resident of Aliso Viejo, according to Pomona PD.

Witnesses at the scene on the southbound side of the 71 Freeway that declined to speak on camera to KNN, said the tow truck was traveling northbound on the 71 Freeway, jumped the center divider and crashed head-on with a minivan in the southbound lanes of the 71 Freeway.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of the 71 Freeway will be closed during the investigation and clearing of the scene. All traffic is being diverted off at Rio Rancho Road to the south and Mission Boulevard to the north from the 71 Freeway.

The Pomona Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the collision. Anyone with information about this collision is encouraged to call the Pomona Police Department’s Traffic Services Bureau at (909) 802-7741 or (909) 620-2048.

Randy Dominguez, Video Journalist / KNN