Early Sunday on a stretch of southbound Interstate 5 near Highway 33 in Fresno County, a routine drive turned deadly for a 49-year-old man from Las Vegas. He was killed in a multi-vehicle collision that shut down lanes and brought traffic to a halt while emergency crews and investigators worked the scene.
Authorities said the man’s car was hit by another vehicle and then by a minivan in the early-morning crash. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Southbound lanes were closed for a time during the investigation and were later reopened to traffic.
The Fresno County Coroner's Office has identified the victim as Steven Robertson, 49, of Las Vegas, according to 8 News Now. The outlet reported the identification as local investigators continued to collect evidence and document the crash site.
How the crash unfolded
The California Highway Patrol said Robertson was driving a gray Nissan Versa south on I-5 when his vehicle veered and struck the rear of a white Toyota Prius that was stopped on the right shoulder.
The impact caused the Versa to spin and come to rest facing the wrong way, with its headlights off, according to investigators. A black Toyota Sienna, driven by a 34-year-old Sacramento man who was reportedly traveling about 70 miles per hour, then collided with Robertson’s vehicle. He was killed at the scene, the CHP said.
The Prius was driven by a 41-year-old Los Angeles resident. Details on any additional injuries have not been released, and the crash remains under investigation, according to the CHP.
Investigation and road impacts
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the collision or who has dash-cam video from the area to contact authorities, as reported by 8 News Now. Even brief footage, officials noted, could help them piece together the moments leading up to the impact.
The southbound side of the freeway was briefly shut down, and drivers experienced delays while tow trucks cleared the wrecked vehicles and evidence teams documented the scene. Officials said they expect to release more information as the California Highway Patrol completes its investigation.
