Tornado downs power lines onto vehicle on remote California desert highway, topples trucks

Tornado hits Calif. desert highways

BLYTHE, Calif. — A California Department of Transportation spokeswoman says a tornado near the Arizona state line has toppled big-rigs and downed high-voltage power poles atop a car with a person inside.

Agency spokeswoman Terri Kasinga says the condition of the motorist is not known because the transmission lines along State Route 78 remained electrified Thursday night and couldn’t be approached.

The incident occurred 10 miles south of Blythe in the remote desert of southeastern California.

Kasinga says the tornado also toppled three big-rigs and trees on Interstate 10 and more power poles on U.S. 95 before moving into Arizona. Interstate 10 has reopened but the other highways remain blocked.