By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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Heavy fog along Highway 99 in California early on Saturday created dangerous driving conditions, leading to dozens of vehicles crashing in a pile-up that resulted in the temporary closure of the highway in both directions.
An initial report had indicated that 150 vehicles had been involved in the pile-up, but the California Highway Patrol (CHP) later clarified that the true number was closer to 59.
The Context
Parts of the country is experiencing severe weather conditions, with the East Coast bearing the brunt of two winter storms, including a bomb cyclone.
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Earlier this month, the Golden State experienced unusually cold and even dangerously low temperatures, prompting an extreme cold watch for several regions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Dense Fog Advisory for the San Joaquin Valley and widespread dense fog, for later on Saturday. Impacts from the advisory cover several highways, including State Routes 99, 41, 43, 46, 58, 59, 140, 152, 165, 180 and 198, and Interstate 5.
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What To Know
CHP received several calls reporting the pile-up shortly after 8:15 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, with collisions on both sides of the highway, forcing a total closure of the roadway.
The first crash occurred near Earlimart, which authorities had warned drivers to avoid due to the hazardous conditions, with CHP warning that fog had limited visibility to between 100 and 200 feet where the crashes happened.
"Traffic Collision North and South Bound Highway 99 from Avenue 24, to Kern County line, Highway 99 is closed in both directions," Tulare County Fire Department wrote on its Facebook page, along with photos of wrecked cars between trucks. "Assistance from kern County Fire and Visalia City Fire, CHP is at scene."
Highway authorities are aiming to reopen by 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time, and CHP reported that 10 people were taken to local hospitals for treatment, including one person with a laceration on their forehead, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
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What People Are Saying
County of Tulare in a post on Facebook: "During dense fog avoid travel and DO NOT rely on automatic headlights. Because it is not dark headlights and tail lights ARE NOT illuminated and your vehicle is nearly impossible to see. Make sure to manually turn on your headlights so others have a chance to see you."
Correction 1/31/26, 6:20 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this report cited a figure of 150 vehicles based on initial reports but subsequently estimates determined a smaller number of vehicles involved*.***
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