One person has died and at least 20 others were injured after a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles on a California highway.
The pileup happened around 9:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, Jan. 11, on State Route 99 in Fresno, according to SFGATE and Your Central Valley. Authorities said 17 vehicles were involved on the southbound side of the highway between North and Cedar avenues, SFGATE reported, citing the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Two separate crashes occurred “moments apart,” the outlet reported. After the initial collision, a couple reportedly got out of their vehicle and was then struck by another car.
The woman was taken to a hospital with major injuries after she went over a barrier and fell roughly 40 feet down an embankment. A man believed to be her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man was later identified as 61-year-old Gustavo Villanueva Vargas of Fresno, according to Your Central Valley.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(736x323:738x325):format(webp)/highway-crash-fresno-011326-3-b53a789cce3b42daacde3041f4174571.jpg)
Other people involved in the crash suffered mostly minor injuries, SFGATE reported, citing Fresno Fire Department spokesperson Josh Sellers.
Officials said “dense fog” was likely a contributing factor.
“Bad weather can play a tragic role on our roadways,” CHP-Fresno wrote on Facebook, alongside a video showing responders at the scene. “Yesterday’s crash on Highway 99 is a heartbreaking reminder of how unsafe speed for conditions, combined with dense fog, can turn an early-morning drive into a life-changing event.”
The Fresno Fire Department also shared photos from the scene on Facebook, describing a “multi-casualty incident” on southbound Highway 99 near Cedar Avenue.
“Several vehicles were involved in a traffic collision that resulted in multiple injuries,” the department wrote. “Tragically, one individual lost their life, and several others sustained injuries ranging from minor to major.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(748x371:750x373):format(webp)/highway-crash-fresno-011326-2-1e275f124a704bf4b6b5fa6d24b9006f.jpg)
Fire officials said crews worked together to free trapped occupants, triage patients, provide lifesaving care, and transport the injured to area hospitals. They added that incidents with multiple victims can be chaotic and require significant coordination among responding agencies.
The Fresno Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
