At least six people were killed in a fiery crash involving a driver going the wrong way along Interstate 5 in Northern California.
The crash took place in Yolo County on Sunday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol, who said that the wrong-way driver was to blame, NBC affiliate KCRA reported. There were numerous calls to the CHP at around 12:30 a.m. about a wrong-way driver near Woodland.
Officers responded and found two cars engulfed in flames after the crash, which burned parts of the freeway itself, according to the report.
“Everything was glowing from the fire and the emergency lights,” witness Jeremey Morgan told the network affiliate. “So it was just this big flickering show. It looked like fireworks going off.”
The wrong-way driver in a 2013 Chevy died in the crash. Five others in the other vehicle, a 2013 Dodge, also died, according to officials.
“That is very sad,” said Sam Diaz, a local. “It’s heartbreaking when you hear something like that about people getting hurt like that, especially if people are driving the wrong way.”
(GoFundMe)
Two of the victims in the Dodge were identified as Christian Paiz and Jessica Garcia, according to friends, who spoke to Fox40. Cristian Lopez-Cambron and Raquel Lopez-Valencia, who a friend said had just got married, were also in the Dodge. Lopez-Cambron’s sister, Yaneth Lopez, who had graduated high school recently, also died.
A GoFundMe for the victims was also set up. “All donations will go to their families. Rest in peace my friends,” it says.
The wrong-way driver hasn’t been identified yet.
(Google Maps)
Witnesses told Fox40 that there was heavy fog in the area of the crash.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash, according to The Associated Press. The identities of the victims will be released by the Yolo County Coroner’s office.
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Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
