LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A big rig crash early Friday morning claimed the life of the truck's driver.

The crash occurred shortly before 5:45 a.m. on East Highway 20 near Cora Drive, east of Lucerne, according to radio and California Highway Patrol reports.

The big rig rolled over in the westbound lane and smashed into the hillside, dropping a load of cement culverts, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.

A deputy was reported to have arrived at the scene ahead of firefighters to find an unconscious male trapped in the overturned big rig's cab, radio reports indicated.

Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded and requested an air ambulance land at Lucerne Harbor Park to pick up the crash victim.

However, a short time later Beristianos canceled REACH 6 – which was heading across the lake to the landing zone – after it was confirmed that the truck driver had died.

Beristianos said shortly before 7:30 a.m. that the highway wasn't blocked, although it was anticipated that once a tow truck arrived to upright the truck, that stretch of Highway 20 would be closed for an extended period of time.

He said the concrete culverts needed to be secured before moving the truck or they would roll away.

Northshore Fire and Cal Fire units are expected to be committed to the scene for a few more hours, Beristianos said.

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