Two people were critically injured and another suffered non-life threatening injuries after two cars smashed into a water truck on the ramp from southbound Interstate 680 to westbound Highway 24 Wednesday.
CHP investigators said the accident was reported at 9:55 p.m. after the driver of a Toyota Highlander, a 39-year-old woman from Concord traveling in the far left lane of southbound I-680 transition road to westbound Highway 24, “allowed the front of her vehicle to collide with the rear of a Toyota Prius,” according to the CHP.
Officer John Fransen reported that the front end of the Prius impacted with the back of a semi-tractor trailer, which had been slowed to a stop due to stopped traffic ahead. The Prius sustained major front and rear damage after it was “sandwiched” between the Highlander and the semi – which was carrying a load of water at the time.
The driver and front passenger in the Prius had to be extricated by Contra Costa County Fire Department personnel, according to Fransen, with the driver – a 34-year-old woman from Oakland – sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Her front passenger, a 33-year-old-woman also from Oakland, sustained major injuries as a result of this collision, according to Fransen. All injured parties where transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek for treatment.
The driver of the big rig, a 29-year-old man from Dublin, was uninjured in the collision.
Fransen said a Sigalert was issued for the accident from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Driver intoxication does not appear to be a factor. The incident is still pending further investigation and the CHP is asking that anyone who may have witnessed this crash contact them at 925.646.4980.
Why does the last paragraph say “reach the dead”?
One person was initially thought to have perished at the scene.
Split a vehicle in half – wow the speed differential must have been huge.
Watch your speed and keep your eyes on the road folks!
I nearly got into an accident in that same spot Monday night. I switched into the middle lane, knowing that the right lane was closing. The person ahead of me in the right lane was confused and actually braked when getting into the middle lane. I was very lucky that no one slammed into me. I think they need more warning as you are coming around the corner onto 24. Hope those involved are ok.