FRESNO, CA — A massive 17-vehicle pileup on southbound Highway 99 on Sunday morning left one person dead and at least 20 others injured after thick fog covered the roadway.
The chain-reaction collisions occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Jan. 11, between North and Cedar avenues. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the crash involved 17 vehicles, including one tractor-trailer.
Officials said the heavy fog, which dropped visibility to just 10 to 15 feet, was a likely cause of the pileup. According to the CHP, the pileup was the result of two separate crashes that happened moments apart. The collisions reportedly began when two vehicles slowed down and were hit from behind by cars driving too fast for the thick fog.
A 61-year-old man from Fresno was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim, a woman, was critically injured after she reportedly got out of her car following the first crash. She was struck by another vehicle and forced over a barrier, falling about 40 feet down an embankment.
Crews from several departments worked together to free trapped passengers and check for injuries on the highway. The Fresno Fire Department and American Ambulance joined the effort, taking at least 20 people to local hospitals. The victims included several children, with injuries ranging from minor to critical.
A Fresno Area Express (FAX) bus also transported those with minor injuries to local hospitals and clinics.
Southbound lanes of Highway 99 were closed for several hours on Sunday while crews investigated the scene and removed debris. All lanes have since been reopened to traffic.
