Dense fog along a notoriously dangerous Central Valley freeway caused a horrific pileup Saturday morning — initially believed to be as big as 150 vehicles.
The California Highway Patrol, however, clarified later Saturday that at least 59 vehicles were involved in the Highway 99 smash-up just after 8:15 a.m. near Fresno and just north of Bakersfield.
Piles of debris and twisted metal following a massive pileup along Highway 99. ABC NEWS
The force of the crash was so powerful, that it pushed the concrete divider. Brandon A. BarrazaTen people people suffered injuries in the crash, none of them serious, CHP Officer Adrian Gonzalez said.
Photos from the Tulare County Fire Department showed cars reduced to crumpled heaps of metal in between tractor trailers and car parts strewn all over the major thoroughfare near Earlimart.
The crash was so forceful that trucks and cars pushed the concrete wall that divides the highway between northbound and southbound traffic.
Dense fog along a notoriously dangerous Central Valley freeway caused a horrific pileup Saturday morning — initially believed to be as big as 150 vehicles. CitizenHighway 99 was closed in both directions from Avenue 24 to the Kern County line, with the collisions happening on both sides.
CHP estimated that there was between 100 to 200 feet of visibility when the pileup happened due to the heavy fog.
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Tulare County initially said 150 vehicles were involved.
Highway 99 is infamous for dense-fog pileups like Saturday’s.
At least 10 people were hospitalized. Brandon A. Barraza
Seventeen vehicles collided on Jan. 11 on Highway 99 in Fresno. Alma Gentil/XOn Tuesday, nine people were hospitalized after thick fog caused a 43-car pileup on Highway 58 outside Bakersfield.
Seventeen vehicles collided on Jan. 11 on Highway 99 in Fresno, killing two people, including driver Gustavo Vargas, who was struck after getting out of his car. The other person who was killed was Vargas’ relative, Gloria Rodriguez. A third passenger, Vargas’ wife, was hospitalized after falling 40 feet over a guardrail.
The County of Tulare warned drivers to not rely on automatic headlights. Alma Gentil/XThe family was on its way to church at the time, according to a GoFundMe.
The County of Tulare warned drivers to not rely on automatic headlights.
“Because it is not dark headlights and tail lights ARE NOT illuminated and your vehicle is nearly impossible to see,” the county said. “Make sure to manually turn on your headlights so others have a chance to see you.”
