Heavy Fog Likely Played Major Role In San Joaquin County Crash That Killed 5
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY (CBS13) — Five people on their way to work were killed in a violent crash on Tuesday, and heavy fog is believed to have played a major role.
For the drivers in the crash, it appears that's all they saw before the impact in a rural area of San Joaquin County on Highway 4 at Van Allen Road.
The van packed with men headed to work on nearby farms was trying to cross Highway 4, and apparently the driver didn't see a truck barreling right toward them.
Visibility was so poor, CBS13 cameras could barely see the scene of the accident. First responders had to have spotters making sure traffic saw them.
The California Highway Patrol says the Chevrolet Venture minivan carrying six farm workers was attempting to cross the road in almost zero visibility when it was T-boned by the Nissan pickup.
The van would roll, killing five of the six people inside. The lone survivor in the van, and the driver and passenger in the pickup were all sent to local hospitals.
The scene of the accident, like most of the region, has been socked in with fog on most recent mornings. The CHP says Tuesday's accident is a good reminder to slow down, turn on fog lights or low-beam headlights and pull over if you can't see.
Davis Cruz with San Joaquin County Migrant Education says they are in the process of finding the victims' families to try and help.
"Get together with the school districts and help them out and through our program hopefully be able to assist those families," he said.
It's unclear if speed was involved, or if the truck had running lights at the them.
The driver of the truck was unlicensed.
