Highway 99 in Tulare County, California, has reopened after a 59-vehicle collision on Saturday morning.

Incident Details

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed that 59 vehicles were involved in the multi-vehicle crash, which occurred shortly after 8:15 a.m. near Avenue 24.

The incident led to the complete closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of the highway. Debris and vehicle fluids were reported across the roadway.

Casualties and Response

Ten individuals were transported to the hospital: nine sustained minor injuries, and one had a moderate injury to their forehead. Remaining parties involved were bused to the Tulare Ag Center.

The CHP cleared the scene and fully reopened Highway 99 within six hours. CHP Officer Adrian Gonzalez noted that the response benefited from lessons learned from a previous 17-vehicle crash on Highway 99 in Fresno County weeks prior.

Contributing Factors and Safety Advisory

Investigators attribute dense fog as a contributing factor, estimating visibility at 100 to 200 feet when the collisions occurred.

Officer Gonzalez advised drivers to reduce speed in foggy conditions to allow for more reaction time and mitigate the severity of potential accidents.

The investigation into the pileup is ongoing.