Three Workers Contracted By Caltrans Injured In Fairfield I-80 Crash

FAIRFIELD (CBS SF) --Distracted driving is suspected as the cause of a major injury crash involving a pickup and a van/utility trailer just off westbound Interstate Highway 80 late Tuesday morning near Fairfield, the California Highway Patrol said.

The van/utility trailer was being used by workers of a veterans group contracted by Caltrans to pick up litter and control brush on the side of the highway, Caltrans spokesman Vince Jacala said.

The van/utility trailer was parked on the right shoulder of the highway east of Manuel Campos Parkway around 11:40 a.m. when the right front of the pickup, a Ford, struck the rear of the utility trailer causing the van to rollover, CHP spokesman Officer David Harvey said.

One of the workers suffered major injuries, two others suffered minor injuries, and all three were taken to the NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield, Harvey said.

The driver of the pickup, Joseph Finney, 32, of Rio Vista, also suffered minor injuries and was taken to Vacaville Medical Center, Harvey said.

Drug or alcohol impairment is not considered a cause of the crash, but distracted driving is suspected, Harvey said.

The collision happened in the same area of Highway 80 where a CHP motorcycle officer and a Vallejo man in a Saturn were killed when they were struck by a truck on the right shoulder of the highway on Aug. 10.

Anyone with information about Tuesday's crash is asked to call the CHP at (800) 835-5247 of the Solano County area office at (707) 428-2100.

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