One Truck Driver Killed After Three Big Rigs Collide in Turlock, CA
July 9th, 2010 | 
Author: TURLOCK, CA – Three big rigs were involved in a fiery chain reaction crash just before midnight Tuesday, July 6, 2010 on California Highway 99 in Turlock, CA, killing one driver and sending a second to the hospital.
CalTrans crews clean up debris on Highway 99 after chain reaction pileup in Turlock, CA
Turlock is in Stanislaus County, California in the central part of the state, about 14 miles southeast of Modesto, about 90 miles southeast of Sacramento, about 299 miles northwest of Los Angeles, about 419 miles northwest of San Diego, about 105 miles southeast of San Francisco, about 84 miles northwest of Fresno and about 352 miles northwest of San Bernardino.
The fatal semi truck accident occurred in the southbound lane of Highway 99 just south of Lander Road.
Location of chain reaction pileup of 3 big rigs just south of Lander Road on Highway 99
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), an 18 wheeler that previously pulled over to the right shoulder near Lander Road was merging back onto a traffic lane when a second semi truck slowed down to allow it to merge into the right lane. A third semi truck was fast approaching from the rear and the driver apparently didn’t notice what was happening ahead. The third big rig slammed into the back of the slowing truck just ahead of him. The third semi truck exploded in flames killing the driver.
According to the CHP, the force of the impact crushed the cab of the third tractor-trailer inward about 15 feet and pushed the second big rig into the first. When the trucks caught fire it triggered a grass fire.
The extent of the injuries to the other two semi truck drivers was not clear and they told CHP officials that they would seek their own medical treatment. The CHP said that all three drivers were wearing their seat belts.
CalTrans crews use heavy equipment to clean up debris after 3 semi trucks crashed in Turlock, CA. Row of trees that runs beside the northbound Lander Road exit can be seen in the background.
Marcus Trask, 41 years old, from Selma, CA, was the driver of the first truck, a 2004 Sterling big rig.
Jaime Henriquez, 56 years old, from Fresno, CA was the driver of the second truck, a 2005 Freightliner.
The man who was driving the third semi truck, a 2007 Freightliner, died at the scene. The deceased driver was tentatively identified by officials from the Stanislaus County coroner’s office on Wednesday afternoon, but his name has not been disclosed pending the arrival of dental records.
Crews were cleaning up debris on the roadway that resulted from the badly mangled wreckage. CalTrans crews had to bring in heavy equipment to clean up the charred wreckage.
The chain reaction pileup disrupted traffic for several hours on Highway 99. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, only one of the southbound lanes was opened but by 11 a.m. all the lanes of highway 99 were finally cleared.
It is not known whether or not alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
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