Only minor injuries were caused by yesterday's massive highway accident and big rig fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The incident, which occurred at 4:48 p.m. on Highway 99 between Bradbury Road and Golden State Boulevard, involved five vehicles and snarled traffic for hours.
The CHP report indicates a messy situation in which a white Chevy Silverado, traveling in the far left lane on southbound 99, attempted to change lanes into the right lane. The front, right side of the Silverado collided with the left rear tire of a tractor trailer. The Silverado then lost control and collided with a black Chrysler Aspen SUV that was also traveling in the left lane.
The Silverado then crossed the center median of 99 and collided with the left front of a big rig, which was traveling northbound in the far left lane. Yet another car, a blue Toyota Solara, which was behind the big rig on northbound 99, collided with the rear of the big rig. The big rig then became fully engulfed in flames as the driver came to a stop in the right-hand lane.
The driver of the Silverado, Arthur Durazo, of Merced, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Doctor’s Medical Center. No one else in the accident required transport to a hospital.
The big rig was carrying orange juice and it sustained major burn damage.
Northbound traffic in both lanes opened at 9:35 p.m.
Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in this accident. The cause remains under investigation.
No arrest occurred as a result of the accident.
