CHP: Big Rig Hit 8 Vehicles In Interstate 80 Crash That Snarled Traffic
WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A big rig plowed through eight cars this morning, injuring at least five people and causing a traffic mess that extended well into the afternoon on Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol said.
The accident happened at around 10:30 a.m. on westbound Interstate 80 just past the Highway 50 junction.
One person reportedly had a major injury that was once described as a possible fatality, but the CHP now says the man is expected to survive with broken bones.
Officers are staying tight-lipped about why the crash happened, but said the driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Alvin Ng of Singapore was the first drive to get hit, he says, as he merged into the middle lane.
"That's when I saw through the rear-view mirror that the red truck was coming in at high speed," he said.
Ng barely had a moment to brace himself.
"It was a split second, so I kinda held onto the steering wheel," he said.
Woodland CHP officer Pedro Leon says officers received conflicting reports about whether traffic was slowing at the time.
"What everyone does tell us at that point, was that the big rig came out of nowhere from behind and just plowed through everybody," he said.
The CHP says the driver plowed through eight cars, leaving a path of destruction in its wake, ending up off the interstate against a tree.
CBS13 cameras captured the driver talking to officers. He appeared alert and unhurt. The CHP wouldn't allow us to ask him questions citing an ongoing investigation. The rig was also inspected for possible mechanical failure.
When asked if they were investigating whether the driver was texting, Leon said, "I could not even begin to address anything like that at this point."
Taking one last look at his smashed-up rental sedan, Ng feels lucky to have escaped with a simple scrape on his arm.
The CHP says it's a good thing the tree was there to stop the big rig. Without it, the truck could have gone into oncoming traffic on eastbound Highway 50 and it could have been much worse.