One dead and at least 20 injured in multi-vehicle pileup on Fresno's Highway 99

People reports one person was killed and at least 20 others injured in a multi-vehicle pileup on State Route 99 in Fresno, California, at about 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11. The southbound collision involved 17 vehicles between North and Cedar avenues and followed two crashes that occurred moments apart, SFGATE and Your Central Valley reported.

After an initial crash, a couple who exited their car were struck by another vehicle; the woman was transported to the hospital with major injuries after she went over a barrier and fell 40 feet down an embankment, while a man believed to be her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased was later identified as 61-year-old Gustavo Villanueva Vargas of Fresno, according to Your Central Valley, and other people sustained minor injuries, Fresno Fire Department spokesperson Josh Sellers told SFGATE. Officials said "dense fog" was a likely contributing factor, and CHP-Fresno wrote on Facebook, "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 said responders extricated trapped occupants, triaged patients, rendered lifesaving care and transported the injured to area hospitals, noting one person died and several others sustained injuries ranging from minor to major.

Key Topics

World, Fresno, California Highway Patrol, Fresno Fire Department, Gustavo Villanueva Vargas