Eastbound I-10 east of Intake Boulevard: a big rig struck parked work vehicles and three construction workers before dawn
BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA (September 25, 2026): Three construction workers were killed early Friday, September 25, when a big rig crashed into a work zone on eastbound Interstate 10 in Blythe, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Riverside County Coroner’s Office identified the men as Christopher Benavides Guatemala, 27, and Alfonso Vega Torres, 50, both of Coachella, and Francisco Morales Mendoza, 39, of Tonopah, Arizona, NBC Palm Springs and City News Service reported.
The Blythe I-10 crash was reported at about 5:17 a.m. east of Intake Boulevard. According to the CHP’s preliminary investigation, the big rig was traveling east at an unknown speed when it struck a parked attenuator truck, a work vehicle fitted with a crash cushion, and an unoccupied Chevrolet Silverado before colliding with a water truck. The CHP said the three workers were struck during that sequence and suffered fatal injuries.
The big rig driver, a 44-year-old Redlands man, suffered severe head and leg injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, the CHP said. Investigators said alcohol and drugs were not believed to be factors, and no arrests or charges have been announced. A SigAlert was issued for the eastbound freeway while the scene was investigated.
The workers’ employer and the specific project they were working on have not been officially identified. California Construction News reported that Caltrans is carrying out a large pavement rehabilitation and safety project on I-10 in and near Blythe. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information may contact the CHP’s Blythe Area office.
Liability for the Blythe I-10 Work Zone Crash
When a worker is killed on the job in California, the family is generally entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits under California Labor Code § 3600 and Labor Code § 4702, regardless of fault. Workers’ compensation is usually the only remedy against the employer, but families can also bring a wrongful death claim against a negligent third party, such as the driver and trucking company of a vehicle that enters a work zone. The key issues typically include:
- Speed approaching the closure: The CHP said the big rig’s speed is not yet known. Engine data and dash cameras can show whether the driver slowed for posted work zone limits and warning signs before reaching the attenuator truck.
- Hours on duty: The crash happened before dawn. Electronic logging device records can show how long the truck driver had been on duty under federal hours-of-service rules.
- Truck condition: Brake, tire and steering records, along with maintenance history, can show whether a mechanical problem played a role.
- Work zone setup: Traffic control plans, lane closures, signs and the position of the attenuator truck are typically reviewed, since that setup is meant to warn drivers and shield crews.
Families may pursue a workers’ compensation death benefit claim and, separately, a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 against any negligent third party. The trucking company can be responsible for its driver under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Cal/OSHA may also review the deaths as workplace fatalities.
Steps to Take After a Blythe Work Zone Crash
Highway work zones are among the most dangerous places to work. Caltrans urges drivers to slow down in cone zones, and under Vehicle Code § 42009 fines for many traffic violations are doubled in highway construction zones when workers are present.
- Confirm the workers’ compensation claim: Ask the employer to confirm that the death was reported to its workers’ compensation insurer and request the claim number.
- Request the CHP report: The Traffic Collision Report from the CHP will document the scene, measurements, vehicle positions and statements.
- Preserve truck evidence: Send a written preservation request to the trucking company for logging device data, dash camera video and engine data before they are overwritten.
- Gather work and family records: Pay stubs, time records and information about dependents help establish death benefits and support a wrongful death claim.
Workers’ compensation death claims generally must be filed within one year of the date of death under Labor Code § 5406, and wrongful death claims against third parties generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Blythe I-10 Work Zone Crash
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and coworkers of Christopher Benavides Guatemala, Alfonso Vega Torres and Francisco Morales Mendoza. Important questions remain: How fast was the big rig traveling as it approached the work zone east of Intake Boulevard, and did the driver slow for the warning signs? And how long had the driver been on duty before the crash at about 5:17 a.m.?
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job or in a construction zone accident anywhere in California, our workers’ compensation and personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on September 28, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on September 25, 2026.
