One person was killed and traffic was backed up for hours yesterday after a three-vehicle crash shut down Highway 4 near the Old River Bridge in Discovery Bay. Responding crews found a tangled scene, with a white truck overturned in an irrigation canal and a damaged motorcycle nearby. The truck’s driver died at the scene, while the motorcyclist suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
According to CBS Sacramento, the California Highway Patrol was called out at about 3:45 PM. Investigators determined that a red Chevrolet Silverado traveling westbound braked hard and veered into the eastbound lane, where it crashed into the white truck. The force of the impact sent the truck into the motorcycle, then off the roadway into an irrigation canal, where it overturned. CHP told the station that the Silverado’s driver was not hurt. Highway 4, including the Old River Bridge, stayed closed until roughly 7:30 PM while officers investigated, and CHP said driving under the influence is not suspected.
Old River Bridge Work And Traffic Controls
Per Caltrans, the Old River Bridge has been undergoing mechanical and electrical maintenance that required temporary lane controls earlier in the month. That kind of work can make detours and traffic control trickier when a serious crash shuts everything down. Local notices have already been cautioning drivers to expect different traffic patterns around the bridge during the repair period.
Highway 4's Safety Record And The Investigation
Highway 4 has seen its share of serious and fatal wrecks in recent years. In 2023, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in the Discovery Bay stretch, according to KTVU. CHP is now investigating Saturday’s crash and, as of the latest update, has not released the names of anyone involved or a detailed explanation of what caused the collision, per CBS Sacramento.
