You know the feeling. You’re sitting in the Pomona area, or maybe stuck near the Badlands heading into Beaumont, and the brake lights ahead just don't stop glowing. It’s frustrating. It's the 60 Freeway—officially the Pomona Freeway or the Moreno Valley Freeway depending on which stretch of asphalt is currently ruining your morning. If you’ve been looking up accidents on 60 fwy today, you probably already know that this 70-mile stretch is more than just a commute; it is a gauntlet.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) data consistently ranks the 60 as one of the most volatile corridors in the Inland Empire. Honestly, it makes sense. You have massive freight trucks coming from the ports, local commuters, and people trying to bypass the 10, all squeezed into a space that feels increasingly too small.
The Morning Mess: Why It Happens Every Single Day
Look at the maps on any given Tuesday or Thursday. It’s usually a mess. Today’s slowdowns often stem from the "Diamond Bar Crush" where the 60 and 57 merge. It’s a design nightmare. When you have five lanes of traffic suddenly forced to share space with a major north-south artery, people panic. They swerve. They don't use blinkers.
Then you have the trucks. Heavy rigs take longer to stop. It’s basic physics. If a passenger car cuts off a semi-truck near the Jurupa Valley exits, the result is rarely a "minor" fender bender. It usually shuts down three lanes for two hours while a heavy-duty tow truck is summoned. This isn't just bad luck; it's a systemic issue with how the Inland Empire grew faster than its infrastructure could handle.
Caltrans has tried to fix it. We’ve seen the "60 Swarm" projects and the massive bridge replacements in Chino and Ontario. Yet, the volume of cars keeps rising. Experts from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) have noted that while the 91 gets all the hate for being slow, the 60 is actually more dangerous in terms of high-speed impact frequency.
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What’s Actually Causing the Accidents on 60 Fwy Today?
Distraction. Seriously, that’s the big one.
We see it every time we glance at the driver next to us. They aren't looking at the road. They’re looking at a screen. On a high-speed route like the 60, where the "S-curves" through the Moreno Valley area require actual attention, a two-second glance at a text message means you've traveled the length of a football field blind.
The Problem with the Badlands
If you’re traveling east toward the desert, you hit the Badlands. It’s beautiful, sure. It’s also deadly. The winding geography between Moreno Valley and Beaumont creates blind spots and narrow shoulders. If someone has a blowout there, there is nowhere to go.
- High-speed differentials between cars and trucks.
- Sudden elevation changes that overheat older engines.
- Sun glare during the morning commute heading east (or evening heading west).
These aren't excuses; they’re the reality of the geography. CHP Inland Division frequently reports that speed is the primary factor in over 30% of the collisions in this specific sector. People try to make up for lost time from the Riverside traffic by flooring it once the lanes open up, only to hit a wall of stopped cars around the next bend.
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Survival Guide: Navigating the 60 Without Losing Your Mind
If you have to be on this road, you need a plan. First off, stop relying solely on your built-in car GPS. Most of them have a lag. Use crowdsourced apps like Waze or Google Maps, but check them before you put the car in drive. If there’s a major rollover in Ontario, you’re better off taking the 10 or even Mission Blvd if you’re just going a few miles.
Give the trucks space. I can't stress this enough. If you can't see the truck driver's side mirrors, they definitely can't see you. Being in a truck's "No-Zone" is a recipe for a PIT maneuver you didn't ask for.
What to do if you’re in a wreck
If you find yourself part of the accidents on 60 fwy today, the priority is getting off the travel lanes. The "Move It" law in California isn't just a suggestion. If the car is drivable, get to the shoulder. If you stay in the middle of the freeway, you’re a sitting duck for a secondary collision, which is often more fatal than the first hit.
- Assess for injuries immediately.
- Turn your wheels away from the road if you’re on the shoulder.
- Stay inside the vehicle with your seatbelt on if you can't get to a safe spot behind a guardrail.
The Long-Term Outlook for the 60 Freeway
Is it ever going to get better? Maybe. The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is constantly looking at lane additions, but "induced demand" is a real thing. You add a lane, more people decide to drive, and within two years, the traffic is exactly the same as it was before.
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The real shift will likely come from technology and better freight management. There is a huge push for "truck-only" lanes in certain parts of Southern California, though the 60 hasn't seen a full implementation of that yet. Until then, we are sharing the road with 80,000-pound giants.
Actionable Steps for Your Commute
Keep a basic emergency kit in your trunk. It sounds like something your dad would nag you about, but being stuck for three hours in 100-degree Ontario heat because of a hazmat spill on the freeway is no joke. You need water. You need a portable charger.
Watch the "Flow" Not the Speed: If you see everyone’s brake lights flashing a half-mile ahead, take your foot off the gas now. Don't wait until you have to slam the brakes. Smooth braking prevents the "accordion effect" that causes those 5-car pileups we see near the Euclid Avenue exit so often.
Verify Real-Time Conditions: Before you head out, check the CHP CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) website for the Inland or Baldwin Park areas. It gives you the raw data—unfiltered and faster than the news stations. It’ll tell you if it’s a "minor 11-82" (property damage) or a "major 11-80" (accident with injuries), which helps you decide if you should grab a coffee and wait it out or find a different route entirely.
Stay alert out there. The 60 doesn't forgive mistakes. Keep your distance, put the phone in the center console, and just focus on getting home in one piece.