A tragic multi-vehicle collision on Highway 87 in San Jose resulted in at least two fatalities yesterday morning, as reported by CBS News San Francisco. Authorities stated that two of the cars involved in the conflagration were Teslas, a Lexus, and a fourth vehicle, which fled the scene.
The accident took place north of Curtner Avenue around 10:50 a.m., where the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed the deaths of an adult and a child. At least two other individuals were transported to the hospital, their condition remaining undisclosed, according to ABC7 News. As a result, the northbound lanes of the busy highway were obstructed for several hours, with traffic snarled back to Capitol Expressway, but were eventually reopened by 3:45 p.m.
San Jose Fire Department Battalion Chief Bennett Yendery described the scene as one with "multiple vehicles involved with fire," and noted the firefighters' prompt initiative to contain the flames, thereby establishing a safe space to work. Despite the involvement of electric vehicles with lithium batteries, the fire was extinguished within an expected time frame, without additional complications, Yendery said in a statement obtained by CBS News San Francisco.
Officer Ross Lee of the CHP acknowledged the complexity of such incidents, stating via CBS News San Francisco, "We respond to crashes all the time ... vehicles have many different working components," and emphasized that determining the cause of the fire is a priority of the ongoing investigation. Lee told ABC7 News, "Obviously, when we have vehicles that are burnt up, we will have to examine those vehicles and make sure that our investigators are able to determine how this crash happened."
