A massive pile-up on California's Highway 99 in Tulare County has been cleared after a nearly 59-vehicle crash caused the road to be closed for hours, leaving multiple people injured and stranded.
According to authorities, the incident occurred just before 8:15 a.m. Saturday, when the California Highway Patrol (CHP) received multiple calls about a serious accident on both the northbound and southbound lanes near Avenue 24. Within 11 minutes, all traffic had come to a standstill.
"It was like vehicles turned over and up on each other, under each other," said CHP officer Adrian Gonzalez, describing the chaotic scene. The officer reported that there was vehicle debris, fluid spills, and involved parties waiting for rides at both shoulders of the highway.
Gonzalez stated that 10 people were taken to hospitals, with nine suffering minor injuries and one having a moderate injury to their forehead. All those involved had been bused to the Tulare Ag Center as part of the recovery efforts.
"We put our badges aside, and ultimately, our main goal is how quickly we can serve this motoring public in times of need," Gonzalez said, highlighting the quick response by his team that led to the clearing of all 59 vehicles within six hours.
The incident occurred amidst dense fog, which reduced visibility to just over 100 feet. This echoes a recent 17-vehicle crash on Highway 99 in Fresno County that claimed two lives and was documented using dashcam footage.
With more fog expected, Gonzalez has a cautionary message for drivers: "Slow down, it's going to give you time to react, and if there is an accident, it won't be as major."
According to authorities, the incident occurred just before 8:15 a.m. Saturday, when the California Highway Patrol (CHP) received multiple calls about a serious accident on both the northbound and southbound lanes near Avenue 24. Within 11 minutes, all traffic had come to a standstill.
"It was like vehicles turned over and up on each other, under each other," said CHP officer Adrian Gonzalez, describing the chaotic scene. The officer reported that there was vehicle debris, fluid spills, and involved parties waiting for rides at both shoulders of the highway.
Gonzalez stated that 10 people were taken to hospitals, with nine suffering minor injuries and one having a moderate injury to their forehead. All those involved had been bused to the Tulare Ag Center as part of the recovery efforts.
"We put our badges aside, and ultimately, our main goal is how quickly we can serve this motoring public in times of need," Gonzalez said, highlighting the quick response by his team that led to the clearing of all 59 vehicles within six hours.
The incident occurred amidst dense fog, which reduced visibility to just over 100 feet. This echoes a recent 17-vehicle crash on Highway 99 in Fresno County that claimed two lives and was documented using dashcam footage.
With more fog expected, Gonzalez has a cautionary message for drivers: "Slow down, it's going to give you time to react, and if there is an accident, it won't be as major."
59 cars in one big mess on California Highway 99? That's crazy. Interesting how they got everyone out safely within six hours, I guess it was a good thing the officer said to put badges aside and focus on helping people. Slow down in all that fog is a great message for drivers 
Just think about all those people who were stuck on that highway with no idea what was happening. It's crazy how one wrong move can lead to a whole chain of events. I mean, the officer's message makes total sense - slow down and be prepared for anything. 
But it's not just about you driving yourself, it's also about being aware of your surroundings and being patient. When we're stuck in traffic or waiting for something, that's when our patience is really tested. Can we learn to control our tempers and be more understanding of others? 
I'm just so relieved that the situation on Highway 99 didn't turn out worse, considering how dense the fog was. It's crazy to think about how quickly everyone came together to help those involved - 6 hours to clear all the vehicles is no joke! 
And what a great reminder from Officer Gonzalez to slow down and be cautious while driving, especially with this foggy weather we're expecting more of... it's just common sense, you know? 
but seriously, it's just a good reminder for us drivers out there. We gotta be aware of our surroundings and take it easy when visibility is low. Can't have any more accidents on the roads! 
59 cars just piled up like that? I'm so relieved the CHP team showed up ASAP and got everyone out safely. Those poor people must've been totally freaked out 
. Slow down, Gonzalez's advice makes total sense. I know we're all used to being in a rush, but this just goes to show how quickly things can go wrong if you don't. I hope everyone involved in the crash recovers from their injuries 
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. I mean, can you imagine being stuck in the middle of a chaotic scene with debris everywhere? It's like life throws us curveballs left and right, but how we respond to them matters. We gotta remember that even when things seem overwhelming, our true strength lies in staying calm, putting on our 'service mode' (just like Officer Gonzalez), and focusing on helping others 
i mean, 100 feet visibility? that's like driving with my eyes closed! 
. guess it's just another reason to be super careful when driving, especially during foggy days 
. slow down, stay alert, and keep those hazard lights on, fam! 
And poor Adrian Gonzalez, he must've seen some stuff. I don't know if I could handle seeing all that vehicle debris and fluid spills every day. The main goal is to serve the public in times of need, yeah... it's about time more people put others before themselves for once! 
59 vehicle crash on Cali highway is crazy 
. I'm surprised the CHP was able to clear everything so quickly. Those officers must've been super organized. Poor guys who got hurt tho... hoping they're all okay 
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. You can imagine how scary and confusing it must have been for everyone involved.
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. At least everyone involved seems to be safe, which is the most important thing.
anyway gotta give props to the officer who stayed calm under pressure 
. 10 people taken to hospital, some with minor injuries, one with a moderate forehead injury 
. Poor guys had to wait at the roadside for hours. But the officer's advice is spot on - slow down and react in time, that's the key! 
California! 
and stranded 
. I hope everyone is okay 
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- it was like vehicles turned over on top of each other 
... it can make all the difference 
and keep everyone safe 
. Fingers crossed for those who were hurt 
. All that debris and fluid spills... what a mess 
. Glad no one was seriously hurt, but still, 10 people taken to hospitals? 
That's way too many for a freak accident like this. And now the CHP is advising drivers to "slow down"? Like they didn't already know that? 
They did an amazing job saving lives and clearing the road. 
if there's an accident. It's always better safe than sorry! 
. But kudos to the CHP for responding so quickly - those guys are heroes 
. Anyway, glad to hear everyone is okay...mostly 
️ they're already doing a great job responding to emergencies like this one, but we need to think about the bigger picture here - how many lives could have been lost if the situation had unfolded differently? 
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