BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Tuesday morning, a big crash happened on Highway 58 near Towerline Road, where officials report a 43-car pile-up.
It was chaos on Highway 58, as 43 vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash near Towerline Road. Both eastbound and westbound lanes were shut down as CHP and emergency crews rushed to the scene, working to help drivers and clear the wreckage.
Officer Jorge Toro, CHP's Public Information Officer, says, "We have reports of visibility being down to about 50 feet, which may have contributed to the cause of the crash. So when you're driving in dense fog areas like that, it's very important to greatly reduce your speed, put those distractions away, and give 100% of your attention to the road."
Authorities say the pileup happened shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, during extremely dense fog.
"It seems like we've had more fog this year already than in years past, so it's very important not to take it for granted. When we tell you to leave with plenty of time, limit distractions, reduce your speed—I think those are key elements that will keep you safe." Officer Toro said.
I spoke with numerous victims who did not want to speak on camera. They described frightening moments, adding that the fog made it impossible to see what was directly in front of them. One driver said they did everything right—driving slow and paying attention—but were still rear-ended by someone driving too fast.
Multiple injuries are reported, ranging from minor to major, and at least nine people were hospitalized. However, no deaths are reported at this time.
CHP tells me this is the first incident of this scale recently in Bakersfield.
"I know a couple of years ago, CHP Buttonwillow had one, and more recently, CHP Fresno handled an investigation of a similar caliber."
Traffic remained at a standstill, and the highway was closed in both directions for hours. The westbound lanes reopened around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Motorists are being urged to avoid Highway 58 and use alternate routes. The California Highway Patrol's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team from Central Division was brought in to investigate the cause. Authorities remind drivers to use extreme caution when visibility is low.
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