Insane inferno erupts after fiery crash in California desert

A fiery semi-truck crash ignited a blaze on a desert highway near Barstow on Friday evening.

At least one person has died from the crash, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Coroner said in a press release. The driver was pronounced dead on the scene, they said. CHP responded to the crash at 6:53 p.m. on Friday.

The crash closed the area of Interstate 40 in the ghost town of Hector for almost a half hour before eastbound traffic could continue. As of Saturday morning, crews were still clearing debris from the crash and westbound lanes are expected to be closed for “most of the day,” CHP said.

It’s unclear how the crash, which involved multiple semi-trucks, happened. A video from the scene shows the trucks on fire and tall flames throwing off plumes of swirling smoke.

Maps on the CalTrans website show westbound 40 road closed in the area of Hector “due to an accident investigation,” it said as of 10:45 a.m. Saturday. “No estimated time for reopening of closure.”

The latest update from CHP: “LANE CLOSURE UPDATE 4/18/26 @ 6:00 AM I-40 WB lanes remain closed as crews continue to clear a crash scene,” they wrote on X. “Traffic diverted at Hector Rd to National Trails Hwy. Closure expected for most of the day. Avoid if possible. Please share this post.”

Hector is located in a remote spot of California’s Mojave Desert east of Barstow. The area is home to the Hector mine, which is primarily used to mine clay, zeolites, boron-borates, lithium and gypsum-anhydrite.

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