SUV Driver Killed in Head-On Crash With Semi Truck on Highway 18 in Piñon Hills

PIÑON HILLS, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A head-on crash between a semi-truck and an SUV on Highway 18 in Piñon Hills left one driver dead and shut down the roadway in both directions Monday afternoon.

The collision was reported at 4:45 p.m. on September 22, 2025, east f Blanco Road.

The crash involved a Freightliner semi-truck loaded with drinks from Snapple in Victorville that was being delivered to the Los Angeles area, and a white Chevrolet Equinox.

CHP scanner traffic confirmed the Equinox driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.

At about 7:00 p.m., San Bernardino County Fire personnel extricated the driver from the vehicle, and the SUV was later placed on a tow truck.

The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office later arrived and took custody of the body.

A witness at the scene told VVNG the driver of the Equinox appeared to be a Black male adult; however, official identification has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.

The semi-truck was driven by a woman, who was not injured.

She was described as distraught after the crash. Her boyfriend and the couple’s two dogs were not injured.

Initial reports indicated the SUV briefly caught fire after the collision and that a bystander used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. According to preliminary information, the SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and into the path of the semi.

As of late Monday night, Highway 18 remained closed in both directions while investigators processed the scene and crews worked to clear the roadway.

This investigation will be handled to its conclusion by the CHP Victorville Area. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call Officer J. Jarvis, ID 18211, at the CHP Victorville Area office at (760) 241-1186.

This is a developing story and additional information will be updated as it becomes available.

UPDATE 9/23 — According to a written statement from the California Highway Patrol, the Equinox was traveling eastbound on State Route 18, “at a high rate of speed, passing within the westbound lane.” For reasons still under investigation, the driver did not merge back into the eastbound lane. The report states the driver of the Freightliner Cascadia attempted to avoid the collision by veering to the left, but “the front of the white Chevrolet Equinox collided with the front of the white Freightliner Cascadia.” Both vehicles came to rest in the desert terrain south of State Route 18.

**Original article updated to include additional information