As the California Highway Patrol continues its investigation
into what caused a deadly accident on Highway 152 Tuesday, Santa
Clara County authorities were still working late into the afternoon
Wednesday to identify the four people killed when their vehicle was
hit head-on by a large truck and burst into flames.
Hollister – As the California Highway Patrol continues its investigation into what caused a deadly accident on Highway 152 Tuesday, Santa Clara County authorities were still working late into the afternoon Wednesday to identify the four people killed when their vehicle was hit head-on by a large truck and burst into flames.
The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office is using dental records to identify the badly burned bodies of four people who were inside a 1999 Toyota 4-Runner when a large delivery truck hit it head-on, pushing the SUV off the highway and down a steep embankment where it burst into flame, according to CHP Officer Chris Armstrong. The driver of the truck, 24-year-old West Covina resident Christopher Yu, suffered cuts to his face and was released from San Jose Regional Medical Center Tuesday. He was flown by Stanford Life Flight following the accident that occurred at around 9:20am, Armstrong said.
While police are still investigating the accident, which closed both lanes of Highway 152 for more than eight hours Tuesday, Armstrong said that the delivery truck was heading westbound on Highway 152 between Dunn Lane and the Don Pacheco Y in southeastern Santa Clara County when for an unknown reason Yu veered into the eastbound lane. Yu collided with the left side of a Freightliner big rig without a trailer driven by Raul Olmos. While Olmos escaped any physical injury his truck sustained moderate damage.
Olmos, a driver for USFilter Transportation, Inc. in Milpitas, said that when he saw the delivery truck coming at him he thought he would be struck head-on. But, he said, he steered hard to the right and was able to avoid a major collision. The delivery truck scraped the Freightliner, knocking off a tire, damaging a second tire and knocking off a metal step beneath Olmos’ door.
After colliding with Olmos’ truck, Yu continued to travel in the eastbound lane and hit the 4-Runner head-on, sending both vehicles down the steep embankment on the south side of the highway where they burst into flame, Armstrong said. The 4-Runner’s four occupants were trapped inside the blazing twisted, wreckage and were killed, he said.
Behind Yu in the westbound lane Los Banos resident Christina Nelson was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban and was struck by flying debris as it passed the accident scene. Nelson was not injured, according to the CHP.
Yu had already gotten out of his truck and was being cared for by passing motorists when firefighters from the California Department of Forestry/South Santa Clara County Fire District arrived at the scene, according to Capt. Paramedic Dustin Hail. Firefighters used water and flame-retarding foam to extinguish the burning cars, which continued to smolder throughout the day.
The identities, ages and genders of the four casualties has yet to be determined. Armstrong said he anticipates the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office to have more details today.
The CHP is still trying to determine why Yu swerved into the opposing lane, Armstrong said. As of now, neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected of contributing to the crash, he said.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
