Update: Driver killed, two injured in Highway 152 crash west of Los Banos, CHP says

One man was killed and two drivers were injured Tuesday in a multi-vehicle traffic collision on Highway 152, west of Los Banos, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Los Banos area CHP officers responded to the collision, reported on eastbound Highway 152, west of Highway 33, just after after 4 p.m., according to a news release.

According to authorities, a 40-year-old male driver of a 2006 Volkswagen, was traveling westbound on Highway 152 in the number one lane at unknown speed. For unknown reasons, the driver allowed the vehicle to swerve left into the center median.

The vehicle overturned and entered the eastbound lanes of Highway 152. The right side of the Volkswagen collided with the front left side of a 2009 Freightliner big rig towing a trailer in the number two lane, driven by 59-year-old Tiem Lam Phu, of Los Angeles.

According to the news release, the impact with the big rig caused the driver of the Volkswagen to be ejected from the vehicle.

The big rig continued in a southeasterly direction off the roadway where it collided with an exit sign and a barbed wire fence.

Authorities said the force of the impact caused the Volkswagen to spin into the center median where it became fully engulfed in flames.

The collision also caused the front axle of the Volkswagen to detach and be thrown into the westbound lanes of Highway 152 where it collided with the front of a 2015 Nissan driven by 29-year-old Felipe De La Cruz, of Santa Clara.

According to authorities, the driver of the Volkswagen suffered fatal injuries in the collision and died at the scene.

The driver of the big rig suffered major injuries and was taken to Modesto Memorial Medical Center. The driver of the Nissan suffered minor injuries and was transported to Los Banos Memorial Hospital, according to the news release.

This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 11:57 AM.