2 dead, 9 injured in Southern California highway pileup
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
9:50 AM – Sunday, January 7, 2024
An accident involving at least 35 vehicles along a stretch of southern California’s Interstate 5 has resulted in two people dead and nine others injured.
On Saturday at approximately 7:30 a.m., an accident occurred involving a 35 car pileup on California’s Interstate 5, which is west of Bakersfield.
According to Kern County Fire Department spokesman Jim Calhoun, visibility was about 10 feet when the crews arrived at the “chaotic” scene.
The accident, stretched out over roughly half a mile, or 0.80 kilometers, affected 17 passenger cars and 18 tractor-trailers.
According to the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), the fatal pileup on the West Coast’s prominent north-south corridor happened on the southbound side of I-5 in Kern County.
As a result of the crash, two people were declared dead at the scene and nine additional people were hospitalized with slight injuries, authorities stated.
“It was pretty chaotic when I first pulled up at the scene, it was compressed natural gas, saddle tanks on the side of some the big rigs that were ruptured, so a lot of the bystanders that weren’t injured were trying to help people and were in a plume of natural gas so we had to deal with that first and get everyone evacuated from that area,” Calhoun told reporters.
According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesperson Tami Grimes, the freeway remained closed at Millux Road while detectives from the California Highway Patrol worked to piece together the collision and establish an official cause.
In the San Joaquin Valley, these low-visibility conditions, which occur when rain saturates the soil, are referred to as tule fog. Reporters stated that because high-pressure air traps the fog, it may persist.
Additionally, forecasters cautioned that ice and wind gusts as strong as 80 mph could affect the corridor north of Los Angeles.
CALTRANS announced on Saturday that southbound lanes would remain shut down overnight while crews removed debris and figured out an official cause of the accident.
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What were the causes of the tragic accident on Southern California’s Interstate 5?
Tragic Accident on Southern California’s Interstate 5 Results in Two Deaths and Multiple Injuries
On the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2024, a devastating accident occurred along a stretch of southern California’s Interstate 5, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to nine others. The incident involved at least 35 vehicles and caused chaos and destruction in its wake.
According to reports from the Kern County Fire Department, the accident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. in an area west of Bakersfield, California. The visibility at the time of the crash was drastically reduced to about 10 feet, making it extremely difficult for emergency crews to navigate the scene.
The pileup stretched out over half a mile, affecting 17 passenger cars and 18 tractor-trailers. It took place on the southbound side of I-5 in Kern County, a prominent north-south corridor on the West Coast, according to the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS).
Tragically, two individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, while nine others suffered slight injuries and were hospitalized. The Kern County Fire Department spokesman, Jim Calhoun, described the scene as chaotic, with compressed natural gas tanks on some of the big rigs ruptured. The presence of the gas posed additional risks and challenges to the rescue efforts, requiring the evacuation of bystanders and ensuring their safety.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has closed down the freeway at Millux Road to allow their detectives to piece together the collision and establish an official cause. Detectives will work tirelessly to ensure a thorough and accurate understanding of the events leading to this tragic incident.
The accident occurred in an area known for low-visibility conditions caused by tule fog, which arises when rain saturates the soil in the San Joaquin Valley. High-pressure air traps the fog, leading to persistently low visibility. Furthermore, forecasters have warned of icy conditions and gusts of wind as strong as 80 mph in the corridor north of Los Angeles.
CALTRANS has announced that southbound lanes of I-5 will remain closed overnight, as crews work to remove debris and determine the official cause of the accident. These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety of motorists and preventing further incidents in the area.
It is imperative to stay informed about accidents like these to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving practices and potentially prevent further tragedies. As details of this accident continue to emerge, our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those affected by this devastating incident.
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