Driver dies in fiery I-5 wreck in Elk Grove early Sunday as truck veers off road into tree

A driver is dead after a fiery wreck early Sunday off Interstate 5 in Elk Grove.

The call came in to emergency crews about 3:58 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

A truck was traveling at high speed onto the Laguna Boulevard on-ramp from northbound I-5 when the driver lost control, veered left and down an embankment, then ran into a tree, the CHP stated. The truck burst into flames.

Investigators said the driver did not escape and was found dead by responding Cosumnes Fire Department crews.

CHP investigators were unable to glean any information off the truck or the driver, so severe was the wreck.

The driver has been identified as 43-year-old Palwinder Singh Bagri.

This story was originally published December 4, 2022 at 5:27 PM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1040

Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.