5 dead, 1 airlifted after big rig, SUV collide in western Fresno County
By Marc Benjamin
September 05, 2017
Five people in a Mercedes sport-utility vehicle were killed when it crashed into a tractor-trailer rig in a fiery collision Tuesday morning west of San Joaquin, according to California Highway Patrol reports.
The collision occurred about 9 a.m. when the eastbound Mercedes apparently was driven through a stop sign and struck by the northbound big rig at Manning Avenue and Highway 33, said CHP Steve Schuh. The truck didn’t have a stop sign. The crash caused a fire, and three people died inside the Mercedes, he said.
Schuh said two people were pulled from the Mercedes after the fire started, but they also died at the scene.
The truck driver, whose vehicle was carrying gravel, was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with major injuries.
The identities of the dead and injured were not immediately available, but the Mercedes is registered from the Hayward area, according to CHP reports.
One of the truck’s diesel tanks ruptured, leaving a hazardous materials spill to clean up, Schuh said. About 60 gallons spilled on the roadway, he said.
The two roads will remain closed for several hours, Schuh said.
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FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — A fifth person has died following a crash Tuesday morning.
CHP says a vehicle was involved with a big rig at Manning Ave. and Highway 33 in west Fresno County.
The vehicle caught fire, which then spread to the big rig.
Highway 33 is closed north of Manning Ave.
CHP says the the vehicle involved is a Mercedes SUV from Hayward, Calif.
CHP says it appears the SUV ran the stop sign and was hit by the big rig.
The road is expected to remain closed for several hours.