Bakersfield, CA: Miguel Irigoyen and Altagracia Gutierrez Killed, Several Injured in Interstate 5 Freeway Multi-car Pileup
About 30 vehicles Collide on Interstate 5 Freeway near Bakersfield Killing Altagracia Gutierrez and Miguel Irigoyen and Injuring Several Others
Bakersfield, California (January 1, 2017) – According to a California Highway Patrol report, two people were killed Saturday morning following a multi-car pileup near Bakersfield.
The victims, identified as Miguel Irigoyen, 50, and Altagracia Gutierrez, 35, both from Manteca, were killed in the crash.
The pileup began at about 8:46 a.m. when two vehicles collided on the southbound Interstate 5 Freeway near State Route166 intersection, north of Highway 99 junction.
The two vehicles stopped on the roadway and soon after the initial crash a tractor-trailer heading the same direction crashed into them killing two people in one of the cars.
Several other vehicles were unable to stop in time and started collided triggering a chain-reaction of at least twelve other collisions.
As per the CHP report, a total of 30 vehicles were involved in the pileup including big rigs and recreational vehicles.
Reportedly, several other people were injured in the chain-reaction with at least one person suffering from major injuries.
The authorities shut down the southbound lanes of I-5 for the better part of the day until about 6:00 p.m.
The deadly incident remains under investigation.