Two people were killed yesterday in a violent four-vehicle crash involving a big rig on northbound Highway 99 in south Lodi, snarling traffic for hours and turning a busy stretch of freeway into a major crime and cleanup scene.
The collision was reported shortly after 12:20 PM near the Harney Lane off-ramp. All northbound lanes, along with the off-ramp, were shut down for several hours while emergency crews treated the injured and tow operators worked to clear the mangled vehicles. Several people were taken to nearby hospitals, and one person tried to flee the scene before being detained, according to police. Crews stayed on scene well into the afternoon to reopen the freeway.
According to The Sacramento Bee, the crash was called in to the California Highway Patrol’s Stockton office at about 12:20 PM, and CHP activity logs show two people died at the scene. CHP spokesperson Itzel Aguilar told the paper that others involved in the wreck were transported to area hospitals for treatment and that investigators had not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs played any role.
Traffic Delays And Lane Closures
Traffic backed up for miles as investigators documented the scene and wreckers worked to remove debris and damaged vehicles from the freeway.
KCRA reported that Caltrans announced on social media that the left two northbound lanes reopened around 3:20 PM. The far-right lane, along with the Harney Lane on- and off-ramps, stayed closed into the evening, and drivers were urged to use alternate routes while the cleanup and investigation continued.
Harney Lane Interchange Has Been Targeted For Upgrades
The Harney Lane interchange has been on regional wish lists for years as traffic and freight volumes climb along this stretch of Highway 99. Planning documents call for reconstructing the SR-99 and Harney Lane interchange to add through lanes and modify on- and off-ramps.
San Joaquin Council of Governments transportation plans list the SR-99/Harney Lane work in the project pipeline, aiming the reduce collisions and ease pressure on one of the region’s key north-south routes for commuters and trucks.
Investigation Ongoing
CHP investigators continued Tuesday to sort through crash logs, interview witnesses and examine the vehicles to piece together what led up to the deadly collision. Officials said no possible contributing factor had been ruled out.
The Sacramento Bee reported that authorities had not released the identities of the two people killed as of late Tuesday afternoon. Officials asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the CHP Stockton office.
