An head-on accident involving a big rig and pickup truck around
2:45 p.m. today on Highway 156 between Flint and Bixby roads has
left one man dead and two needing medical attention.
An head-on accident involving a big rig and pickup truck around 2:45 p.m. today on Highway 156 between Flint and Bixby roads has left one man dead and two needing medical attention.
A 56-year-old Atascadero man died when a maroon Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was eastbound on Highway 156 and collided with a big rig driving west toward the San Juan Bautista area, said Officer Jaime Rios, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.
Witnesses reported the pickup truck had been driving on the wrong side of the road when it hit the semi-truck, Rios said. As authorities arrived, the two vehicles had been separated by about 100 feet.
The pickup truck’s driver died before authorities arrived to the scene and its passenger, a male, was transported to a local hospital by Calstar with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.
“It doesn’t look like (life threatening),” Rios said. “It looks like he might have a broken leg.”
The big rig’s driver, an adult male, was treated at the scene with apparently non-serious injuries.
Ages and residences of the two others involved in the accident should be available later today, Rios said. The coroner’s office will release the fatal victim’s identity.
The spokesman noted how authorities had examined the area for identification of the driver but could not find it, as those items may have been among the scattered debris.
The pickup driver’s side and front-left corner were smashed into the driver, whose body remained in the vehicle while authorities responded to the others.
Traffic was severely backed up as of 3:45 p.m. and it was unclear when authorities would have the debris removed and road cleared.
As of 5:45 p.m., traffic was still being routed along Freitas Road.
Authorities had to remove the victim’s body and also had to tend to leaking diesel fuel coming from the big rig.
Along with the CHP and Calstar, others responding were the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, Calfire and the San Benito County Fire Department. American Medical Response ambulance service helped as well.
Look back for more on this story. Also, look for video from the scene.
