Man Dies After Being Found in Car During I-15 Gridlock Amid Triple-Digit Heat
BARSTOW, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A man died after being found unresponsive in his vehicle during hours-long gridlock on northbound I-15, where drivers were stranded in triple-digit heat Monday.
The traffic jam was caused by a semi-truck fire near Zzyzx Road that shut down all northbound lanes.
According to a written statement provided to VVNG by Officer Shane Hernandez of the California Highway Patrol Barstow Station, officers responded at approximately 4:14 p.m. to reports of a disabled gray BMW stopped in the #1 lane of I-15.
Upon arrival, officers located the BMW running with its doors locked and a male unresponsive in the driver’s seat. An officer broke a window to access the vehicle and immediately began life-saving measures.
The man, later identified by the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office as Marshall Roland Rub, a 68-year-old resident of Shafter, California, was transported to Barstow Community Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The San Bernardino County Coroner listed the manner of Rub’s death as natural.
The incident occurred during an ongoing traffic crisis caused by a separate vehicle fire earlier in the day. At approximately 1:15 p.m., a big rig hauling 25,000 pounds of rubber tires caught fire on northbound I-15 about three miles north of Zzyzx Road near Baker.
The fire was initially reported as a brake fire on the trailer’s rear axle. CHP confirmed that all northbound lanes were shut down as a result of the blaze, and traffic was rerouted south at Zzyzx Road.
VVNG previously reported on the fire and subsequent traffic chaos in an article titled Major Delays on Northbound I-15 Near Zzyzx After Truck Fire; Drivers Stranded in Extreme Heat.
The location of the disabled BMW was about 5.9 miles north of Zzyzx Road and approximately 14 miles southwest of the town of Baker, on a stretch of freeway between the closure point and Rasor Road.
According to CHP, “burning tires were exploding, sending burning debris across lanes,” while emergency responders battled the flames under extreme heat and limited water access. Fire crews estimated it would take approximately three hours to contain the fire, which contributed to a significant traffic backup stretching 15 miles.
According to statements shared by San Bernardino County Fire on X (formerly Twitter), “Limited water sources and 120 degree temperatures make conditions difficult. The result is a major traffic issue on the 15 freeway.” The department also added, “CountyFire is moving additional ambulances and support units into the area to support impacted motorists.”
The prolonged shutdown led to frustration among motorists, some of whom were stranded in traffic for several hours.
Motorists expressed frustration on social media over the prolonged closure and extreme heat. One driver, Manny Dabranca, posted on the Barstow CHP X account (formerly Twitter), “Wow. You would think someone would be directing people. We are near the fire. No direction. No information. 115 degrees. When someone dies in their vehicle who will be responsible!? Terrible response. Our tax dollars at work.”
In another post, Dabranca questioned the lack of on-the-ground communication, writing, “Why not direct people directly behind the fire? Can we idle for 5 hours in 115 degree heat. Kids and elderly all around? X can’t be the only form of communication!”
While authorities have not linked Rub’s death to the traffic incident or the heat, the timing and circumstances raised concern from others caught in the same backup.
Firefighters patrolled the affected stretch of freeway, providing stranded drivers with water and Gatorade during the hours-long closure.
At 9:34 p.m., CHP Barstow confirmed that all northbound lanes had reopened, though traffic remained heavy and motorists were advised to use caution approaching the area.
