100 Car Crash Pile Up In Fresno Involving 18 Big Rig Trucks

FRESNO, Calif. - At least 100 cars and 18 big rig trucks collided in the fog on Saturday November 3, 2007, killing two people and possibly more, as well as having injured many many more according to the California Highway Patrol. This 100 car crash pile up in Fresno involving 18 big rig trucks is one of the worst in terms of numbers of vehicles involved, in U.S. history.

18 big rig trucks were also damaged in the vehicle crash, which occurred on Highway 99 just south of Fresno in deep fog. Witnesses states that the fog made it hard to see and that may have added to the increase in the accident occurring. This is verified by the CHP.

"It looked like something out of a movie, walking up and seeing all the cars mangled and crushed," according to CHP Officer Paul Solorzano Jr.

"There was probably 2-foot visibility in the fog when I got here. It was really bad," "It looked like chaos." "Cars were backed up on top of each other", according to Mike Bowman, who is a spokesperson for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

First responders extracted many from their cars and trucks. The ambulances transported at least three dozen wounded to the emergency room with injuries, according to Ken Shockley, a Fresno Fire Department spokesperson.

"Everybody was trying to miss everybody, but it was impossible not to get hit," according to Cindy Ramirez, who is 21 years old.

The freeway's northbound lanes were shut down and accident reconstructionists are at work trying to determine fault. Traffic was backed up for many miles just south of the crash site but the Southbound lanes did not close.

This type thick seasonal fog is called "Tule fog" and is common in Central California during the winter and fall months. Recently another part of the highway just due south of this wreck was the accident site of a 74-car chain collision in autumn. That was about ten years ago and two people died in that one. This blog report was brought to you by Los Angeles personal injury attorneys. See also Truck Accident Lawsuits in LA.

Chemical Trucks Are Spilling Death on the Roads

Yes, it's true, chemical trucks are spilling death on the roads. Every year, at least 200 hazardous material (hazmat) trucks get into fatal trucking crashes. There are also at least 5,000 in nonfatal big rig truck crashes. In at least forty percent of all fatal accidents involving big rig tractor trailers, truck drivers increase the factors due to vehicle code violations, safety violation and driver fatigue in trying to meet deadlines, etc. In fact, every 16 minutes, an individual is killed or gets seriously injured or maimed from 18-wheeler big rig truck accidents, such as those involving semi trucks.

Adding the factor of deadly chemicals like gasoline trucks, chlorine and hydrogen, and even radio active materials such as nuclear waste, you have a a recipe for disaster. Chemical trucks are spilling death on the roads and you can help stop the madness by fighting for stronger rule enforcement and smarter laws. Get in touch with aggressive counsel by checking the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys blog here, if you were hurt in LA.

Truckers Must Exercise "Extreme Caution", not Just "Reasonable Care"

May tort attorneys who don't focus on big rig trucking accidents don't know that drivers of commercial trucks owe a higher than normal duty of care to other users of the freeways and highways. That's right, commercial truckers must exercise "extreme caution", not just "reasonable care."

In fact, drivers of commercial truck must exercise "extreme caution," not merely "reasonable" care, when they are driving under hazardous conditions such as rain, and it was prejudicial error for trial judge to instruct jury using lesser standard where undisputed evidence supported plaintiffs' contention that hazardous conditions existed. (See e.g., Weaver v. Chavez- filed November 7, 2005, Second District, Div. Four Cite as 2005 SOS 5026 Full text.)

Retaining an experienced Los Angeles truck accident attorneys can go a long way to attaining a greater than normal recovery in commercial trucking accident lawsuits. There are many commercial vehicle laws that commercial truckers and limousine operators must abide by that could allow for additional damages and theories of liability such as negligence per se. Contact experienced Los Angeles injury lawyers at Ehline Law Firm PC, to learn more about commercial truck dangers and how to avoid them. But don't forget that commercial truckers must exercise "extreme caution", not just "reasonable care."