Calif. truck driver killed in Lake County rollover crash

(Update: Adding number of Oregon fatal crashes this month)

A California semi-truck driver was killed in a rollover crash Tuesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 395 in Lake County, Oregon State Police reported.

Troopers and other emergency personnel responded to the crash around 1:10 p.m. near milepost 151, OSP Captain Tim Fox said.

A preliminary investigation found that a blue 2011 Kenworth tractor and flatbed trailer driven by Pete George Cappello, 63, of Cottonwood, California was heading north on the highway when, for an unknown reason, the rig drifted into the ditch on the east shoulder and rolled on the highway, Fox said.

Cappello suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, Fox said.

Highway 395 was closed for more than four hours after the crash.

OSP was assisted by ODOT, Lake County sheriff’s deputies, Lakeview police, EMS and fire, New Pine Creek Fire and Thomas Creek/Westside Fire.

There have been 29 fatalities in 25 fatal crashes in May on Oregon highways, up about 10 percent from last year, according to Fox, who cited ODOT reports.