Author Topic: Massive pileup closes Calif. highway.. Fresno (Read 8068 times)

*FFC* · « **on:** Nov 03, 2007, 04:34:22 PM »

Anyone know about this? Everyone okay??

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071103/ap_on_re_us/freeway_pileup

FRESNO, Calif. - More than 100 cars and trucks crashed on a fog-shrouded freeway Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, the California Highway Patrol said.

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Eighteen big rigs were involved in the massive pileup on Highway 99 just south of Fresno as patches of dense fog obscured visibility on the heavily traveled roadway, CHP officials said.

"It looked like something out of a movie, walking up and seeing all the cars mangled and crushed," CHP Officer Paul Solorzano Jr. said.

A 6-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man traveling in separate vehicles were killed in the chain-reaction collisions around 7:45 a.m., he said.

"There was probably 2-foot visibility in the fog when I got here. It was really bad," said Mike Bowman, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "It looked like chaos. Cars were backed up on top of each other."

Rescuers had to extract several people from the wreckage, and paramedics took more than three dozen patients to the hospital with injuries, Fresno Fire Department spokesman Ken Shockley said.

"Everybody was trying to miss everybody, but it was impossible not to get hit," said Cindy Ramirez, 21, of Selma, whose purple Mazda pickup truck was rear-ended. "I'm fine physically, but I keep thinking about all of the things that could have happened."

Hours after the accident, the freeway was littered with smashed cars and trucks, broken glass, auto parts and blood. A big rig carrying stacked crates of live turkeys was stranded on the normally busy highway.

Crash victims gathered on the freeway shoulder near the wreckage, waiting to be interviewed by investigators.

The freeway's northbound lanes were shut down indefinitely as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash. Traffic backed up for miles south of the wreckage. Southbound lanes remained opened.

Thick seasonal fog known as "Tule fog" typically occurs in Central California in the late fall and winter. A stretch of the highway several miles south was the scene of an autumn 74-car pileup nearly a decade ago that left two people dead.

Blingn · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 03, 2007, 04:49:57 PM »

oddball · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 03, 2007, 08:21:11 PM »

Doesnt that happen like all the time?

Doof · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 04, 2007, 01:14:34 PM »

is everbody with marlin crawler ok??

saw it on yahoo and it was gnarly

ToYocRawleR · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 04, 2007, 01:22:25 PM »

What happened?

*FFC* · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 04, 2007, 01:31:20 PM »

Quote from: Peperoncini on Nov 03, 2007, 08:21:11 PM

Doesnt that happen like all the time?

According to the article, this is the largest pileup on 99 in a decade

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 05, 2007, 06:11:50 AM »

That fog can get nasty, I think the last "Big Wreck" happened on the I-15 in the Cajon Pass there were about 100 in that one too. I've driven in fog that thick and it is not fun, mostly because of the a-holes that don't slow down. I'd be going like 30-35 mph and have some stupid idiot pass going the usual sunny day 80-90 mph. If people would realize that their lives are worth more than any stupid job or appointment these big accidents wouldn't be so bad.

Cheesemaker · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 05, 2007, 11:01:03 AM »

Dean's (4THEWKN) mother-in-law was in the one ten years ago!

Ruari · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 05, 2007, 11:21:11 AM »

More pictures. I hope everyone else is o.k.
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?ei=UTF-8&p=HIGHWAY+99+PILEUP&c=&fr=&c=images

Lady Di · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 05, 2007, 01:09:26 PM »

Quote from: Rocksurfer on Nov 05, 2007, 06:11:50 AM

That fog can get nasty, I think the last "Big Wreck" happened on the I-15 in the Cajon Pass there were about 100 in that one too. I've driven in fog that thick and it is not fun, mostly because of the a-holes that don't slow down. I'd be going like 30-35 mph and have some stupid idiot pass going the usual sunny day 80-90 mph. If people would realize that their lives are worth more than any stupid job or appointment these big accidents wouldn't be so bad.

You know, that's a good point. Whenever I get in fog like that I don't drive any faster then I know I can see. I always think "how the hell does this happen? How do people careen through the fog into each other" But that is just it. I could be driving safely along at 35 miles an hour and WHAM! Some yahoo thinking it's a beautiful spring morning goes and ruins my whole day.
It's ridiculous.
The same thing happens here in our torrential downpours. I was on I-4 barely able to see the road in front of me when two cars went FLYING by as if nothing was happening. A mile up the road they were both in a ditch on the side of the road.
At least they were considerate enough not to hit anyone

Willy Mammoth · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 05, 2007, 05:25:27 PM »

That's me going by you at 5 mph over the limit and waving. It's only a little rain.

Plekto · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 02:07:08 PM »

This is why they have a big bright rear fog light on the rear of European vehicles. Me, I'd be tempted to have a Hella yellow one - at least 50-60W.

Lady Di · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 02:12:43 PM »

Quote from: Willy Mammoth on Nov 05, 2007, 05:25:27 PM

That's me going by you at 5 mph over the limit and waving. It's only a little rain.

That's him

I can hardly see out the windshield and he's like

La dee la.. I can see where the road is.
OK, so granted I can't see well anyway... if they still made eyeglass lens with coke bottle bottoms, that would be me.

Willy Mammoth · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 04:26:15 PM »

You have to use your mind's eye to visulize where the road is and hope nobody gets in your way.

That is also the reason a bunch of people will all drive off a clif one after another cause they all think the guy in front of them can see where they are going.

unclejpl4x4 · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 04:29:06 PM »

your the force strech out your feelings

Lady Di · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 06:12:23 PM »

Quote from: Willy Mammoth on Nov 06, 2007, 04:26:15 PM

You have to use your mind's eye to visulize where the road is and hope nobody gets in your way.

That is also the reason a bunch of people will all drive off a clif one after another cause they all think the guy in front of them can see where they are going.

don't learn from the stupid

Quote from: unclejpl4x4 on Nov 06, 2007, 04:29:06 PM

your the force strech out your feelings

ditto

Lady Di · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 06:15:59 PM »

Do not drive further then YOU can see and DO NOT TRUST THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU.
Ask Glen.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 06:25:26 PM »

yea dont assume that stupid woman driver isnt going to decide to hang a left in the middle of no freekin where

what is up with wimmin drivers, oh and always on the dang cell

NEVER NEVER NEVER stop or slow way down in the hammer lane, you WILL get run over, any decent trucker will go to the hammer lane in bad fog to avoid hitting those peolpe that just freek and stop in the road, 20 mph is STOPPED

snowshoebrue · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 06, 2007, 09:11:00 PM »

my boss told me today that one of the people up at the front of the deal was drunk. I was looking at the pics and my wife's uncle has one of his semi's in a pic with the front end all smashed up

*FFC* · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 07, 2007, 10:10:39 AM »

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #20 on:** Nov 07, 2007, 11:48:20 AM »

Quote from: snowshoebrue on Nov 06, 2007, 09:11:00 PM

my boss told me today that one of the people up at the front of the deal was drunk. I was looking at the pics and my wife's uncle has one of his semi's in a pic with the front end all smashed up

probably a woman driver on the

putting on makeup