SUV flips twice on 55

In the blink of an eye, regular Friday afternoon traffic on the southbound 55 Freeway just before Fair Drive turned into a scene of panic and chaos when a woman’s SUV collided with a truck then flew into the air and rolled over twice, throwing her onto the right shoulder.

Authorities are investigating what caused a woman to steer her black SUV into the right lane and collide with a large truck, sending her vehicle flipping through the air and slamming into the freeway side wall underneath the 73 Toll Road overpass about 12:40 p.m. and sliding at least 30 feet along the wall.

When the car slid to a rest on the right shoulder, at least a dozen people had already pulled over and rushed to her aid as she lay motionless more than 30 feet from her vehicle. Police did not identify her and said she did not appear to be wearing her seat belt.

The SUV’s right front tire caught underneath the truck’s frame, catapulting the SUV. Witnesses said it rolled at least twice as it slammed into the wall, caving in the ceiling and ejecting the driver.

Traffic was traveling about 60 to 65 mph at the time of the crash.

The truck she collided with appeared undamaged and the driver was uninjured.

Officials said it appeared the female driver had serious head injuries and was rushed to Western Medical Center’s Trauma Center.