BAKERSFIELD, CA – A devastating collision involving 35 vehicles, including large trucks, occurred on a foggy stretch of Interstate 5 in Southern California early Saturday morning, resulting in at least two fatalities and nine injuries.
The catastrophic event unfolded around 7:30 a.m. west of Bakersfield, according to Jim Calhoun, a spokesperson for the Kern County Fire Department. Calhoun reported that the fog had so severely reduced visibility that emergency crews could only see about 10 feet ahead upon their arrival at the chaotic scene.
The pileup was comprised of 17 passenger cars and 18 large trucks, spanning approximately half a mile of the interstate. Witnesses at the scene described a harrowing scene of panic and confusion. Yesenia Cruz, a driver involved in the pileup, recounted the immediate aftermath: “Everybody just started screaming for help, just like that, and there were little kids as well crying.”
Adding to the chaos, Calhoun reported that ruptured saddle tanks on some of the large trucks released a cloud of compressed natural gas, posing an immediate threat to both bystanders and those injured in the accident. First responders had to prioritize the gas leak, evacuating everyone from the area before attending to the injured.
Authorities confirmed that two people were declared dead at the scene, while nine others were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries.
The California Department of Transportation announced that the southbound lanes of the interstate would remain closed overnight as crews worked to clear debris and investigate the cause of the pileup.