Bad weather is plaguing drivers in California this week, with freezing roadways and foggy conditions leading to a 60-car accident on I-5 in Siskiyou County on Tuesday night.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the pile-up, but several reports of injuries have come in after a semi truck crashed into a concrete barrier while sliding on black ice, causing a chain-reaction. At least one person had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. Both sides of the interstate were shut down for about two miles as crews worked frantically to help the victims and remove vehicles from the site.
“At this time we’re not certain whether or not a small snowstorm or hail storm precipitated this ice formation or it was just the below freezing temperatures in the air,” Yreka Police Public Information Officer Nick Black said.
While 60 vehicles were involved, 18 of those were actually struck; the rest were simply stranded on the interstate, either due to the icy conditions or because of the accident.
traveling Interstate 5? Nor Cal Yreka – NB I-5 reopened in Siskiyou Co after 60-car pileup along icy stretch. BEWARE OF ICE. freezing temps!
And here’s first big trouble: I-5 closed near Yreka last night amid 60-car pileup, likely due to icy road. http://t.co/4Z1agOib#cawx…
Yikes! RT @LANow: Interstate 5 reopens after 60-car pileup near California-Oregon border http://t.co/RkXel7Pe
Why U don’t travel this time of year. RT @TheMatthewKeys: Reports of a 60-car pileup near Yreka, California – http://t.co/wdpOuCCX
A 60-car pileup means that there were at least 59 shitty drivers too close to one another. http://t.co/mDja3mdh