Speed played a role in dozens of fog-related crashes, CHP says

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Dozens of crashes person happened successful the Central Valley's dense fog successful the past 7 days but the California Highway Patrol says successful each case, velocity and unsafe driving were besides factors.

Sunday marked the 2nd clip successful 1 week that idiosyncratic was killed successful a fog-related clang successful Fresno County. The CHP said successful some instances, sections of large highways were closed for respective hours, each portion the fog persisted.

Around 7:30 Sunday morning, a Chevy S-10 slammed into a semi-truck. It happened arsenic the operator of the freightliner was making a U-turn wrong the intersection connected Clovis Avenue adjacent Highway 99. Both vehicles went up successful flames and the 40-year-old antheral driving the pickup died from his injuries.

The deadly clang happened precisely 1 week aft 17 vehicles piled up conscionable 5 miles away, connected Highway 99 adjacent North Avenue.

Dashcam video of the incidental obtained by Action News shows the terrifying moments arsenic 1 operator was blinded earlier crashing into respective different cars.

"I mislaid my enactment erstwhile I was watching it," said Melissa Culver, 1 of the survivors of past week's monolithic pileup that near 1 antheral dead.

Culver suffered injuries to her ribs, eye, arm, thorax and legs. Now, she says she and her household are doing everything to debar driving successful the utmost fog again.

"I person thank-you letters that I privation to nonstop disconnected to CRMC, American Ambulance, the Fire Department, arsenic good arsenic CHP but they're sitting successful my location due to the fact that I haven't wanted to spell to the station bureau erstwhile it's foggy outside," she said.

Culver isn't alone. Even drivers who person made it to their destinations safely this week accidental they've been acrophobic portion connected the roads, too.

"It's beauteous scary retired present recently, particularly with the Tule fog coming backmost in," said Adrianna Hernandez, who usually commutes to enactment betwixt 6 and 7:30 successful the morning.

Others accidental it's not conscionable the fog that worries them.

"Some radical conscionable thrust excessively fast," said Frank Ortiz, a Fowler resident.

Authorities accidental that's true. With each fog-related clang the CHP responded to this week, velocity was besides a factor.

Officers are pleading with the assemblage erstwhile again -- thrust safely, oregon not astatine all.

"Our champion advice: if you could postpone those trips until it clears, delight do. If not, delight dilatory down," said CHP Officer Mike Salas.

Action News has been repeating tips for driving safely successful the fog each week, online and successful our newscasts and authorities accidental they can't beryllium stressed enough.

Aside from avoiding driving oregon slowing down if you bash request to beryllium connected the road, they counsel that you marque definite you crook your lights connected manually some time and nighttime to guarantee your taillights are visible.

Also, if you're going to propulsion over, get distant from the road, and ever deterioration your seatbelt.