Truck driver injured in Highway 99 crash

The driver of a commercial truck suffered unspecified minor injuries Thursday when his vehicle overturned on Highway 99, just off the East Mission Avenue onramp.

The driver’s identity was not available Thursday. The California Highway Patrol described his injuries as minor and said he was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

The CHP said the driver was entering southbound Highway 99 from the East Mission Avenue onramp just before 1 p.m. when the vehicle struck a short cement divider and overturned. The cause of the crash remained under investigation Thursday evening.

No other injuries were reported and no other vehicles were involved, Officer C. Williams said.

A witness to the crash apparently cut open the truck’s windshield and pulled the driver out of the wreckage before emergency responders arrived, the Merced Fire Department confirmed.

Battalion Chief Billy Alcorn said moving a crash victim is generally not a good idea without proper training, saying victims are placed in greater risk of neck injuries when moved by nonmedical professionals.

“Emergency responders have been trained and have specialized equipment that immobilize the neck when we move someone. You never want to compound the problem at the scene,” Alcorn said.

It was unclear whether the victim in Thursday’s crash suffered any neck injuries. Alcorn said, however, the incident should remind people about the importance of letting trained professionals do their jobs.

Southbound traffic slowed for several hours after the crash as emergency responders cleared the scene.

This story was originally published January 8, 2015 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Truck driver injured in Highway 99 crash."