Nearly 60 vehicles involved in fog-related pileup in California; 10 injured

A large pileup involving dozens of vehicles shut down Highway 99 in both directions in central California, according to state and county authorities. At least 10 people were injured.

The pileup occurred shortly after 8:15 a.m. local time Saturday on Highway 99 near Avenue 24 in Tulare County, a largely agricultural region in California’s Central Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield.

The California Highway Patrol said 59 vehicles were involved, revising an earlier estimate from county officials that placed the number closer to 150.

Ten people were taken to local hospitals with injuries, the California Highway Patrol said. No deaths were reported.

Tulare County fire officials said the highway was closed in both the northbound and southbound directions from Avenue 24 to the Kern County line. CHP officers remained at the scene as emergency crews work to clear the roadway.

Authorities said dense fog was a factor, with visibility estimated at about 100 to 200 feet at the time of the crashes. The collisions occurred on both sides of the highway.

Photos from the scene show crushed passenger vehicles wedged between tractor-trailers, debris scattered across multiple lanes, and emergency responders navigating rows of damaged cars under heavy fog as traffic remained at a standstill.

Tulare County officials asked drivers to avoid travel during heavy fog and warned motorists not to rely on automatic headlights, noting that headlights and taillights may not illuminate in low-light daytime conditions unless manually activated.