A quick roadside stop to throw on tire chains turned into a terrifying scene today afternoon on U.S. Highway 50, when a pickup lost control and plowed into three men near Johnson Pass, east of Echo Summit. The crash, reported around 12:45 p.m., left all three with serious injuries and sent them to Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe.
According to officials, the men had pulled over to work on their chains when the truck slid into them on the snowy grade. One man was hurled roughly 40 feet. The other two were dragged before passing motorists and a Caltrans crew managed to free them.
How the crash unfolded
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, a 23-year-old Concord man had parked his Kia in a turnout to install tire chains when two other 23-year-old men, one from San Jose and the other from San Leandro, pulled over to lend a hand.
While they were working, a westbound Chevrolet Silverado lost control on the slick, snow-covered descent and slammed into the Kia, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Silverado was driven by a 21-year-old, with a 17-year-old passenger. Both reported pain after the collision, authorities told the paper.
The CHP said the crash is still under investigation and that alcohol and drugs did not appear to play a role.
Storm and road conditions
The wreck unfolded in the middle of a potent Sierra storm that buried the region in heavy snow, triggered chain controls and led to temporary shutdowns on major mountain highways.
KCRA reported that Caltrans and the CHP were briefly holding stretches of Highway 50 and Interstate 80 for snow-removal operations, while drivers fought through whiteout conditions and spinouts. Authorities warned anyone heading to or from the lake to plan for serious delays and to carry proper traction devices.
Rescue and response
Per The Sacramento Bee, the force of the impact launched one victim about 40 feet and dragged the other two before they could be pulled to safety. No arrests had been reported as of the latest update.
All three men were taken by emergency crews to Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe. The CHP’s South Lake Tahoe office is leading the investigation into what exactly went wrong on the snowy grade. The paper also noted that the National Weather Service recorded roughly 15 inches of new snow at nearby Echo Summit in the 24 hours before the crash.
How drivers can stay safer
Caltrans urges drivers to get as far off the roadway as possible before stopping to install chains, to follow chain-control signs and checkpoints, and to be ready for fast-changing weather. The agency’s guidance lays out the R1 through R3 chain-control levels and notes that traffic typically slows to about 25 to 30 mph when chains are required.
Before heading into the mountains, travelers are advised to check Caltrans QuickMap or the Highway Information Network and to bring approved traction devices whenever storms are in the forecast. During heavy snow, chain-control checkpoints and staffed chain-installation areas operate along key corridors to keep traffic moving and to protect anyone working on or near the highway.
The CHP is asking anyone with video or information about the collision to contact the South Lake Tahoe office as the investigation continues. This story will be updated as authorities release more details and any additional guidance on traveling during the storm.
