Dense fog led to a nearly 60-vehicle pileup that injured at least 10 people and forced the closure of one of the region’s busiest highways for hours.
Thick fog reduced visibility to near zero early Saturday morning, contributing to a massive chain-reaction crash on State Route 99 in California’s Central Valley.
Dense fog led to a nearly 60-vehicle pileup that injured at least 10 people and forced the closure of one of the region’s busiest highways for hours, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
CHP said the crash occurred shortly after 8:15 a.m. near Avenue 24, about 40 miles north of Bakersfield. Investigators said dense tule fog, a common winter weather phenomenon in the San Joaquin Valley, severely limited drivers’ ability to see slowing or stopped traffic ahead.
Photos from CHP and the Tulare County Fire Department show emergency crews arriving on scene encountered a chaotic and dangerous situation, with vehicles stacked, overturned and wedged together in both the northbound and southbound lanes. CHP confirmed that 59 vehicles were involved, though officials initially warned the number could be higher as responders worked through the fog and wreckage.
Authorities said nine people suffered minor injuries, while one person sustained a moderate injury. No fatalities were reported…