A dense fog that blanketed a notoriously hazardous highway in California’s Central Valley on Saturday morning led to a severe multi-vehicle accident, originally estimated to involve around 150 cars.
However, officials from the California Highway Patrol later confirmed that at least 59 vehicles were actually part of the incident on Highway 99, which occurred just after 8:15 a.m. north of Bakersfield, close to Fresno.
Images released by the Tulare County Fire Department depict a scene where vehicles were crumpled and smashed among scattered car parts and tractor trailers along a main road near Earlimart.
The impact was so intense that it knocked both a truck and car off the concrete barrier that separates the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway.
As a result of the collisions, Highway 99 was shut down in both directions from Highway 24 to the Kern County line, with accidents reported on either side.
Ten individuals were injured and transported to local hospitals, as stated by sources. The status of fatalities, if any, remains unclear.
According to estimates from the CHP, visibility during the crash was between 100 and 200 feet due to the fog.
Tulare County had initially reported the involvement of 150 vehicles, but Highway 99 has a history of being shrouded in heavy fog.
In a prior incident on January 11, a 17-vehicle crash occurred on Highway 99 in Fresno, resulting in two fatalities. Another recent accident, also during foggy conditions, involved 43 vehicles on Highway 58 near Bakersfield, sending nine people to the hospital.
Tulare County officials advised motorists against relying on automatic headlights in these conditions, noting that, since it wasn’t dark, many vehicles did not have their lights on, making them difficult to see. The county encouraged drivers to always turn on their headlights manually for better visibility.
