Five dead in big rig vs. car crash on Interstate 5 near Firebaugh
WEDNESDAY UPDATE
A fiery collision involving a big rig and a pickup claimed the lives of five people in the pickup Tuesday night near Firebaugh and the southbound lanes of the freeway remained closed Wednesday morning as investigators evaluated what took place.
The crash occurred shortly after 9 p.m., when the pickup carrying the five crossed over from northbound lanes to the southbound side, causing the collision, said CHP spokeswoman Shasta Tollefson.
The pickup burst into flames, and the big rig, carrying cardboard, also caught fire.
Southbound traffic was being routed on a 33-mile detour to Highway 33, then to Derrick Avenue and back to I-5. Drivers within the crash investigation scene were unable to leave for several hours, according to the CHP.
Tollefson said that there was no information immediately available about where the pickup occupants were from.
The CHP and Caltrans were evaluating the condition of the roadway, damaged by flames from the crash.
It was the second mutiple-fatality crash in less than a week in western Fresno County.
Last Friday night, seven children were among nine people killed when an SUV and truck crashed head-on and the truck caught fire on Highway 33 near Coalinga.
This story will be update
ORIGINAL REPORT
A head-on collision between a big rig truck and a small vehicle was reported late Tuesday night on southbound Interstate 5 southwest of Firebaugh, resulting in a possible fatality.
Details are preliminary. Officers responded to the crash near Panoche Road at 9:16 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol website.
Both vehicles were said the be engulfed in flames, and the big rig was said to be transporting cardboard.
At 9:39 p.m. officers communicated that at least one occupant may still be in the small vehicle. The Fresno County Coroner was called to the scene.
This story was originally published January 5, 2021 at 11:16 PM.
