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A crushed Cadillac was all that was left after a big-rig rear-ended the car on Highway 99 near Modesto, killing three people. (Photos: Modesto Bee | modbee.com)

Triple-fatal truck accident: Three people were killed Monday when a big-rig rear-ended their car on Highway 99 in Ceres, about 5 miles south of Modesto.

•   Six men were in a disabled car on Highway 99 when they were struck from behind by a big-rig.

•   Three of the men in the back seat of the car were killed immediately.

•   The other three men in the car were hospitalized with serious injuries.

•   The truck driver was not hurt. 

The deadly highway accident occurred just before dawn, at about 6:20 a.m., according to a report in the Modesto Bee.

California Highway Patrol officer Chuck Leon said a southbound  Cadillac with six people inside was either traveling very slowly or stopped in the slow lane of Highway 99, possibly due to a flat tire, when the accident occurred.

A big-rig driven by 43-year-old Varinder Badial of Yuba City was traveling southbound at about 57 mph when it hit the Cadillac from behind.

The impact crushed the rear of the Cadillac, killing three men in the back seat. The men were identified as  Jose Jaime Botello-Herrera, Erasmo Tello Jaimes, and a third man whose name was withheld pending notification of his next of kin. The Bee reported that Botello-Herrera and the unidentified man were in their 20s, while Jaimes was in his early 50s.

A fourth man who was riding in the back seat, 18-year-old Bryan Aranda, survived but suffered serious head injuries. The driver of the car, 53-year-old Rogelio Reyes Leon, suffered major injuries, and the front seat passenger, 26-year-old Antonio Lopez, suffered moderate injuries. All three of the men were hospitalized.

All of the men in the car were migrant workers who were traveling to a local farm to install sprinklers, according to the Bee report.

The truck driver was not injured.

Leon said the CHP does not suspect that drugs, alcohol, or texting were involved in the accident.

Fresno Truck Accident Lawyers

A truck driver struck a car on Hwy 99 near Fresno on Monday, killing the driver. He fled the scene. (Photos: KSEE News | ABC News)

Fatal truck accident: A truck driver who fled the scene Monday after he hit and killed a pedestrian on Highway 99 near Fresno told police he didn’t know he had hit anyone.

•    A man driving a car with seven passengers inside tried to pull off of the highway when the vehicle stalled.

•    The man opened the driver’s-side door to get out and was hit by a passing big-rig. He died at the scene.

•    Police later found the truck, but the driver said he didn’t know he hit anyone. He said he thought he had a blowout.

•    The District Attorney’s office is reviewing the evidence and will decide whether or not to charge the truck driver with felony hit and run.

The deadly highway accident occurred shortly before 6 a.m. on Highway 99 north of Traver, according to an ABC News report. Traver is about 25 miles southeast of Fresno.

California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Avery said a 45-year-old man from Visalia was driving a Honda Accord that had earlier been reported stolen.

When the car developed mechanical problems, the driver tried to pull over to the side of the road but was unable to get completely off the highway, Avery said.

The man opened the driver’s-side door to get out of the car and was hit by a big-rig. The truck drove away, witnesses said.

The victim died at the scene. The seven passengers in the car — an adult male, a mother, and her six children — were not injured.

In an updated story, KSEE News reported that the truck continued all the way to Bakersfield but was found by police on Highway 99 north of Kingsburg. CHP Officer Avery said the big-rig driver claimed he did not know he had hit anyone.

“If he was aware of the incident, of course he would face hit-and-run charges,” Avery said.

The truck driver told police he felt the impact and pulled over immediately after the accident, but he thought he had a blowout. He said he did not know he hit anyone.

The CHP did not arrest the truck driver but they did impound the truck so investigators could examine the evidence. The District Attorney’s office will determine whether or not charges will be filed.

Fresno Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A  law enforcement officer was killed and a Caltrans worker severely injured when a big-rig slammed into stopped traffic in a construction zone near Modesto. (Photo: Modesto Bee)

An off-duty law enforcement officer was killed and a Caltrans worker suffered major injuries Thursday when a big-rig slammed into cars stopped in a construction zone on Highway 132 near Modesto.

•   A Caltrans worker flagged traffic to stop in a marked construction zone on a rural highway.

•   A semi truck approached the stopped traffic but did not stop. The big-rig slammed into a Honda sedan, which then crashed into a Nissan.

•   The Nissan hit the Caltrans worker, who was airlifted to a hospital with major injuries.

•  The Honda driver, an off-duty police officer, died at the scene.

The deadly truck accident occurred at about 12:15 p.m. near Faust Road, according to a report in the Modesto Bee.

Road work had closed the westbound lane of the two-lane highway, so traffic headed in both directions had to take turns using one the eastbound lane.

Caltrans worker Brian Smith, a 30-year veteran of the department, was stopping eastbound traffic when a black Nissan and a silver Honda pulled up and stopped as directed.

A big-rig drove up behind the stopped traffic and slammed into the stopped traffic.

“He collided first with the back of the silver Honda, which pushed it forward into the black Nissan,” California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Parsons told CBS Channel 13 News.

The impact killed the driver of the Honda, who was identified as an off-duty law enforcement officer from Stanislaus County. His name was not released, pending notification of next of kin. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Nissan struck the Caltrans worker, Brian Smith, who was severely injured. He was airlifted via helicopter to a hospital to be treated. No details about his injuries were released.

The Nissan driver reportedly was not injured.

Caltrans and the CHP said the construction area was clearly marked with signs.

Modesto Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A woman died in a head-on big-rig crash near Stockton. (Photo: Fox40 News)

Fatal big-rig crash: A school official died Tuesday when an out-of-control semi truck veered into oncoming traffic and crashed into her car in Escalon, about 13 miles from Stockton.

 •   The rear tank of a empty double-tanker truck started to drift on a rural highway and the driver lost control.

•   The big-rig sideswiped an oncoming cattle truck and then slammed a Honda sedan head-on.

•   The driver of the Honda died on impact. No other injuries were reported.

•   Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, the CHP said.

The deadly accident occurred early Tuesday morning, according to an article in the Stockton Record.

The California Highway Patrol reported that a double-tanker truck — which usually carries water but was empty at the time — was traveling eastbound on Mariposa Road at about 55 mph at the time of the accident.

The CHP told KCRA News that the rear tanker started to drift and the driver lost control.

The big-rig sideswiped a westbound cattle truck, according to Fox40 News, and then veered directly into the oncoming traffic lane, where it crashed head-on into a westbound Honda sedan driven by 58-year-old Joan Lorraine Justice-Brown of Escalon.

The car was wedged underneath the big-rig. Justice-Brown, who was an educational specialist with the San Joaquin County Office of Education, died on impact.

The cattle truck driver and the big-rig driver were not injured, the CHP said.

Police do not yet know what caused the rear tanker to drift, but they said alcohol was not a factor. It was not raining, but the road may have been somewhat slick, the CHP said.

The accident is still under investigation.

Stockton Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of people killed in truck accidents for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

One person was killed after a big-rig jackknifed on I-805 in San Diego. (Photos: CBS8 News)

Fatal big-rig crash: One person was killed and three others were injured after a big-rig jackknifed early Tuesday on rain-slicked Interstate 805 in San Diego‘s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

•    A big-rig jackknifed across all lanes of the rain-slicked freeway.

•    Several vehicles crashed into the truck, including a Toyota sedan that was lodged underneath.

•    The Toyota driver was killed instantly.

•    Firefighter had to extricate other victims from the vehicles.

•    At least three victims were hospitalized.

The accident occurred at about 5 a.m., according to a CBS8 News report.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Steven Toth said the accident started when a driver lost control of his semi-truck and it suddenly jackknifed across all lanes of northbound Interstate 805 near 47th Street in Lincoln Park.

Several vehicles crashed into the truck. One of those vehicles was a  Toyota Yaris driven by a 36-year-old San Diego man. It was wedged under the truck.

The driver of the Toyota died instantly, Toth said. The Medical Examiner’s office withheld the deceased victim’s name pending notification of his family.

Among the other vehicles that crashed into the jackknifed big-rig was a white pickup truck that also was lodged underneath (see photo). Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate victims from their vehicles. It took almost two hours to do so, according to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

A passenger in the Yaris survived but was seriously injured. Toth said he did not have any information about the severity of that victim’s injuries or his condition.

At least two other people were injured as well. Two of the victims were transported to UC San Diego Medical Center, while another was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital.

It was not clear which victims were taken to each hospital and no information was yet available about the severity or nature of their injuries. All of their names were withheld.

The accident remains under investigation.

San Diego Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for more than 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

One person was killed in a crash with three big-rigs on Highway 60 in Diamond Bar. (Top photo: Glendora Patch | Bottom photo: ABC News)

Fatal big-rig crash: One person was killed and three others seriously injured Friday in a pileup involving three big-rigs and another truck on Highway 60 in Diamond Bar.

•   A box truck and a big-rig pulled over to the side of the freeway after a minor collision to exchange information.

•   Both drivers and two passengers were standing between he trucks when a third truck hauling bananas slammed into the parked big-rig from behind. 

•   Three of the four people standing between the trucks were crushed. One of them died at the scene and the other two were airlifted to hospitals in critical condition.

•   The banana truck overturned but the driver sustained only minor injuries.

The deadly freeway accident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on the eastbound side of the freeway, west of Phillips Ranch Road, according to an Inland Valley Daily Bulletin report.

California Highway Patrol Officer Kerri Rivas said it started when a Ford F7000 box truck and a tractor trailer got into a minor collision and pulled over to the shoulder to exchange insurance information.

The driver of the box truck and his two passengers were standing between the two trucks with the big-rig driver. A third eastbound big-rig, which was hauling a load of bananas, rear-ended the parked tractor trailer.

The impact caused the parked tractor trailer to lurch forward about 15 feet, Rivas said. Three of the four people standing between the two trucks were crushed. The banana truck then careened to the left and overturned on the freeway, spilling fuel and boxes of fruit onto the roadway.

The box truck driver died at the scene, Rivas said. One of his passengers was able to jump out of the way, but the other one – 40-year-old Arnold Hutchinson of Mira Loma — suffered major injuries. Hutchinson was transported via ground ambulance to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and then airlifted via helicopter to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. He was listed in critical condition, Rivas said.

The driver of the parked big rig, 53-year-old Constantino Olmos of Riverside, also suffered catastrophic injuries. He was airlifted directly to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center, where he was in the intensive care unit. He also was listed in critical condition, Rivas said.

The driver of the banana truck, 23-year-old Emilio Alvarez of South Gate, sustained minor injuries. He was taken to San Dimas Community Hospital to be treated for complaints of pain, Rivas said.

The freeway was completely closed until two lanes were reopened shortly before 6 p.m., according to a Claremont/Laverne Patch news update.

“Anytime there is fatality, we have to do a long-term closure in order to conduct an extensive investigation,” CHP spokesman Vince Ramirez told the Los Angeles Times.

Diamond Bar Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

One person was killed and three others injured when a big-rig slammed into stopped cars on Highway 41 in Lemoore.

Fatal big-rig crash: A man was killed and three other people were injured Saturday when a semi truck plowed into a group of three cars stopped at a light on Highway 41 in Lemoore.

•   A truck failed to slow down at an intersection on a rural highway and plowed into a pickup truck stopped at a stoplight.

•   The truck burst into flames, trapping the driver inside. He died at the scene.

•   The fire spread to two other vehicles, which were forced by the impact into the intersection. One hit a streetlight and the other crashed into a power pole.

•   The drivers of those two cars suffered burn injuries.

The rural highway accident occurred at 7:54 a.m., according to a report in the Hanford Sentinel.

California Highway Patrol Officer Jerry Pierce said a southbound big-rig driven by 21-year-old Harpal Singh Sandhu of Clovis failed to slow down at Hanford-Armona road and slammed into a 1996 Chevy S-10 pickup truck.

The pickup truck immediately burst into flames and the driver, a 46-year-old man from Huron, was trapped inside the vehicle. He died at the scene.

The fire spread to the two vehicles in front of the pickup truck, both of which were launched into the intersection. One of the vehicles struck a streetlight and the other crashed into a power pole.

One of the motorists, 59-year-old Jack Leal of Lemoore, suffered burn injuries to his hair and face as well as lacerations to his nose and lip. Another motorist, 43-year-old Melissa Dodd of Riverdale, complained of pain to her neck and back.

The big-rig driver sustained burns on his left leg.

Officials closed the highway for several hours to clear the scene and conduct a preliminary investigation. This was the second time in two consecutive days that a big-rig failed to stop at an intersection and caused a fatal accident in the Hanford/Lemoore area.  (Read more: Hanford: Big-Rig Runs Stop Sign, Slams Car in Fatal Crash)

Lemoore Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of truck accident victims for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A big-rig ran a stop sign in Hanford and plowed into a small sedan, killing the driver. (Photos: CBS News)

Fatal big-rig crash: A woman was killed Friday morning when a big-rig ran a stop sign and slammed into the driver’s side of her compact sedan in Hanford.

•   A big-rig sped through a stop sign and broadsided a Toyota Corolla that already was in the intersection. 

•   The woman driving the Toyota died at the scene.

•   The big-rig driver was not hurt.

•   The accident remains under investigation.

The deadly accident occurred at about 4:30 a.m. at the intersection of Ninth and Houston avenues, according to a report in the Hanford Sentinel.

California Highway Patrol Officer Jerry Pierce said investigators believe 24-year-old Daniel Aranda of Hanford was driving a Peterbilt semi truck southbound on Ninth Avenue and sped through the stop sign at Houston Avenue without stopping.

The truck slammed into the driver’s side of a 2005 Toyota Corolla that was already in the intersection, traveling eastbound on Houston Avenue.

The violent impact killed the driver of the Toyota, 46-year-old Bayola Flores Garcia of Lemoore. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The truck driver was not injured. He was not immediately arrested, but Pierce said the investigation is ongoing. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

Truck Accident Statistics

Most deaths in big-rig accidents are people in passenger vehicles, not the truck driver or his passengers.

More than 3,400 people died in big-rig crashes in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Only 14 percent of those fatalities were people in trucks, while 72 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 13 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.

Hanford Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of truck accident victims for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A big-rig ran a red light in Modesto and plowed into another vehicle, killing the driver.

Fatal big-rig crash: A Patterson man was killed Thursday evening when a big-rig ran a red light and crashed into his vehicle at the intersection of Hart Road and Highway 132 in Modesto.

•   A big-rig driver ran a red light and plowed into the driver’s side door of a pickup truck at 50 mph.

•   The impact slammed the pickup truck into a third vehicle.

•   The pickup truck driver died. The driver and passenger in the third vehicle were hospitalized with moderate injuries.

The rural highway crash occurred at 6:22 p.m., according to a report in the Modesto Bee.

California Highway Patrol officer Eric Parsons said 51-year-old Harjit Bassi of Turlock was driving a big-rig east on Highway 132 when he ran a red light at Hart Road at about 50 mph.

The big-rig crashed into the driver’s side door of a 2012 Dodge pickup truck driven by 51-year-old Neil Phillips Jr. of Patterson, according to a report in the Patterson Irrigator. The impact slammed the pickup into a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt that was stopped on the highway waiting to make a left turn onto Hart Road. The Cobalt was driven by 25-year-old Jose Rivera of Patterson.

Phillips suffered severe injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto, where he died.

Rivera and his passenger, 24-year-old Johana Machain of Patterson, suffered moderate injuries, according to the Bee. They were transported to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto to be treated.

Bassi was not injured.

Parsons said drugs and alcohol were not involved in the accident. Investigators will determine whether any charges will be filed against Bassi.

Modesto Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Two drivers were hospitalized after a big-rig crashed on I-10 in Baldwin Park. (Photo: Carlos Aviles | Baldwin Park Patch)

Two drivers were hospitalized with head injuries Tuesday after one of them lost control and his big-rig jacknifed on Interstate 10 in Baldwin Park.

•   A truck driver lost control of his big-rig, crashed into the center divider, and jackknifed across the freeway.

•   An approaching tank truck was unable to avoid crashing into the jackknifed big-rig.

•   Both drivers suffered head injuries and were transported via ground ambulance to USC Medical Center to be treated.

The truck accident occurred at 7:19 p.m., according to a Baldwin Park Patch news report.

California Highway Patrol Officer Kerri Rivas told the Patch news site that 59-year old Elias Rivas of Carsol was driving a big-rig eastbound in the No. 3 lane of Interstate 10  when the accident happened. His rate of speed was unknown.

Rivas  veered to the left for unknown reasons and crashed into the center divider wall.  The tractor trailer went completely out of control and jackknifed across three freeway lanes, Officer Rivas said.

A 2011 Ford tank truck, driven by 29-year-old Miguel Martinez of Rialto, was traveling eastbound in the No.2 lane at about 45 mph and was unable to avoid crashing into the jackknifed big-rig. The impact damaged the big-rig’s fuel tank. About 50 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the freeway.

Both drivers suffered moderate head and bodily injuries, Officer Rivas said. Both of them were conscious at the scene. They were transported to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center to be treated.

Authorities closed all lanes of the freeway for about three hours in order to clear the scene and clean the oil spill.

The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Baldwin Park CHP office during normal business hours at 626-338-1164. After hours, witnessed may contact the Los Angeles Communications Center at 323-982-4900.

Baldwin Park Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.