Horrific Interstate 5 Pileup
In a devastating incident on Saturday, a massive pileup involving approximately 40 vehicles occurred on Interstate 5 (I-5) in Kern County, California, just 33 miles north of the Los Angeles County line. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives, and nine others sustained minor injuries as dense fog blanketed the area, reducing visibility to a mere 10 feet.
The incident transpired on the southbound side of I-5, a crucial north-south corridor on the West Coast. Authorities, including the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Kern County Fire Department, rushed to the scene to render aid and investigate the crash. The freeway remained shut down at Millux Road as CHP investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the pileup and establish an official cause.
Tami Grimes, a spokesperson for the CHP, confirmed the two fatalities but indicated that further details would be forthcoming. According to Battalion Chief Jim Calhoun of the Kern County Fire Department, the collision seemed to comprise three core collisions occurring in close proximity, with 18 of the involved vehicles being tractor-trailers.
The pileup was reported shortly after 7:30 a.m. in a rural area known as Conner, located north of the notorious Grapevine region, which is prone to snowfall. The weather conditions were attributed to tule fog, a thick mist that forms in the San Joaquin Valley after rain saturates the soil. Unfortunately, this fog can persist when high-pressure air traps it, creating treacherous driving conditions.
The situation in the area was further compounded by a southbound storm that was predicted to bring several inches of snow to the Grapevine. The National Weather Service also issued warnings about ice and powerful wind gusts up to 80 mph in the corridor north of Los Angeles, urging motorists to exercise caution due to blizzard conditions and reduced visibility from blowing snow.
Contact us here on the WarmuthLaw website or through our hotline 888-517-9888.
