CHP officers shut down a section of north U.S. Highway 101 while highway crews from Caltrans reported to the scene of the deadly collision to clear the traffic lanes.

At around midnight Friday an unidentified 65 year old truck driver from San Leandro, CA was driving a 2005 International tractor trailer truck north on Highway 101 through Santa Clara County, CA. The truck driver had picked up a cargo of broccoli in Salinas, CA and was transporting the trailer load north to Oakland, CA. The total weight of the trailer and the broccoli was believed to be about 80,000 pounds.

As the truck driver was going over the Sargent Road Overpass just north of the Pajaro River he attempted to make a maneuver and lost control of the 18 wheeler truck.

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According to authorities the trailer truck went off the highway onto the right shoulder and the driver may have overcorrected as he pulled the tractor trailer back onto the road. The semi truck careened across the highway and crashed into the metal guardrail running along the east side of the highway. The semi truck apparently went off balance and flipped onto its side and the trailer became separated from the cab. The trailer truck finally came to a rest across both of the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101.

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No other persons or vehicles were involved in the truck accident.

California Highway Patrol officers and emergency personnel rushed to the scene of the truck accident. Unfortunately, the truck driver suffered fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP officers shut down a section of north U.S. Highway 101 while highway crews from Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) reported to the scene of the deadly collision to clear the traffic lanes. A trailer truck was brought to the truck accident site and the load of broccoli was offloaded from the disabled truck onto the second semi trailer. It would take three heavy duty tow trucks to get the wrecked trailer truck back up on its wheels. Once upright the damaged tractor trailer was removed from the highway.

It would take three heavy duty tow trucks to get the wrecked trailer truck back up on its wheels. Once upright the damaged tractor trailer was removed from the highway.

Caltrans crews also worked to replace the metal guardrail that had been damaged in the truck accident. Workers used acetylene torches to cut off the section of crumpled guardrail so a new section could be installed.

The highway closures lasted for more than 10 hours after the truck accident causing delays in the Friday morning rush hour. Drivers were rerouted off U.S. Highway 101 around the disabled trailer truck while the highway crews worked and investigators conducted a reconstruction. Traffic was directed to leave Highway 101 at Highway 156 however those who did not take the detour found themselves stuck in jams that lasted up to nine hours. One of the highway’s northbound lanes was opened around 9:30 a.m. Friday morning and both lanes were finally opened at around 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.

At this time officers have not determined the exact reason the truck driver lost control of the semi trailer and crashed into the guardrail. Alcohol may have been a factor but it will be several weeks before toxicology reports are completed. No charges have been made at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

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.

The fire burned for over an hour creating black plumes of smoke which could be seen for miles.

At around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday evening an ARCO double tanker truck was traveling on Palm Avenue just east of Interstate 805. The semi tanker truck was carrying about 8,700 gallons of gasoline split between the two tankers. The tanker is owned by BP (British Petroleum) and was reportedly transporting fuel to a local ARCO station.

When the truck driver reached the intersection of Palm Avenue and Dennery Road he attempted to make a left hand turn onto Dennery. The driver may have been going too fast as he negotiated the turn and the back tanker on the truck flipped over onto its side. The impact of the rollover truck accident damaged the tanker and it exploded into flames. The front tanker on the truck was able to remain upright.

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