Massive 35 Car Pile-Up Leaves 2 Dead, Others Injured

(Scypre.com) – A major collision involving 35 vehicles, including cars and big rigs, occurred on a foggy stretch of Interstate 5 in Southern California early Saturday, resulting in at least two fatalities and nine injuries.

The fatal incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. west of Bakersfield, as reported by Jim Calhoun, a spokesperson for the Kern County Fire Department. Calhoun described the scene as “chaotic,” with visibility reduced to about 10 feet due to dense fog.

Yesenia Cruz, a driver caught in the pileup, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, “Everybody just started screaming for help, just like that, and there were little kids as well crying.”

The crash involved 17 passenger cars and 18 big rigs, spanning half a mile of the roadway. Calhoun mentioned the involvement of compressed natural gas from ruptured saddle tanks on some of the big rigs, creating a hazardous situation. Responders prioritized addressing the gas issue and evacuated individuals from the affected area.

Tragically, two people were pronounced dead at the scene, while nine others sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized.

The California Department of Transportation announced the closure of the southbound lanes overnight for cleanup and investigation into the official cause of the crash.

Describing the incident as a “catastrophic chain-reaction crash,” Kern County Battalion Chief Jim Calhoun provided additional details. The collision took place in foggy conditions around 7:30 a.m., approximately 20 miles north of the Grapevine, involving multiple southbound vehicles between Millux and Old River roads.

Caltrans officials reported the involvement of 17 vehicles and 15 big rigs in the pileup. The chaotic scene included at least one truck carrying compressed natural gas, requiring the evacuation of motorists and prioritizing triage for injuries.

Video footage from the scene depicted numerous damaged vehicles scattered across a grass median. With two confirmed fatalities and nine injuries, the closure of Interstate 5 continued throughout Saturday for thorough investigation and debris cleanup.

As Sunday approached, dangerous conditions persisted on I-5. A high-wind advisory was issued for the Grapevine area, urging caution and advising campers and trailers to avoid travel. Additionally, a winter weather advisory, in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday, warned of “patchy blowing snow” and “strong winds” in the Kern County mountains, emphasizing the need for drivers to slow down and exercise caution.