Motorist killed as car rams into semi

Friday, Jan. 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A California man was killed on Interstate 15 when he drove his car into the rear of a tractor-trailer rig, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Steve Harney said.

Just after 8 a.m. Thursday, Douglas Mitchell, 45, pulled his 1995 Kenwood 18-wheeler onto the emergency lane of northbound I-15 about 22 miles south of Las Vegas because of a flat tire, Harney said. Mitchell was out of the truck, standing between the tractor and trailer when a 1984 Mazda slammed into the rear of the trailer. The entire front end of the car, including half of the front seat, ended up under the rig, Harney said.

The 20-year-old driver, from Chula Vista, Calif., about 15 miles south of San Diego, died on impact. It took rescue crews an hour and a half to cut the body from the car, Harney said. The driver's name was not released pending notification of his family.

The tractor-trailer rig, based in St. George, Utah, was carrying a load of grand pianos from Vantenna, Calif. The truck driver was not injured.

Harney said the driver of the Mazda may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

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