UPDATE: Victims identified in back to back fatal accidents in Hollister
UPDATE 6/16/15 3:04p.m.: The California Highway Patrol has identified Monday’s fatal accident victim as Omar Carino of Hollister.
CHP officers said the driver of a big rig hauling a trailer full of produce failed to stop in time, rear-ended one car which caused a chain reaction. In total, nine other people were injured besides the fatality.
Sunday night’s fatal accident victim also on Highway 25 has been identified as Armando Gonzalez, 37, of Hollister. CHP investigators are looking at possible DUI charges for the driver, Robert Thomas, who they said caused that accident.
UPDATE 6/16/2015 9:59 a.m.: One person is dead and five people went to the hospital Monday night after a car crash that closed Highway 25 for about eight hours.
California Highway Patrol said traffic slowed on Highway 25 just before 5:30 a.m. but the driver of a Freightliner semi-truck failed to bring his truck to a safe stop, hitting the back of a Ford F-150. That crash caused a chain reaction involving seven cars, officers said.
A 33-year-old man was killed in the crash, according to CHP. Officers said Jude Kratzer, 5, Mark Solomon, 60, Andrew Eastes, 33, Saul Rivers, 42, and Noe Fragozo, 34, were all taken to local hospitals to be treated for injuries.
The driver of the semi-truck, Mandeep Mangat, 34, of Fresno was not hurt, officers said.
Two more people involved in the crash, Juan Altamirano Jr., 33, and Robert Doldge, 32, were not hurt in the crash according to CHP.
UPDATE 6/16/2015: Highway 25 is re-opened Tuesday morning, after a deadly crash Monday evening.
California Highway Patrol said the accident happened near Shore Rd. and the highway was closed the roadway for about 8 hours.
A man in his mid 30s was killed during the crash and as many as nine people were hurt – five were taken to the hospital, officers said.
Initial reports indicate a gas can may have fallen out of the back of a truck, which later ignited, officers said.
UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: The southbound side of Highway 25 in Hollister will be closed into the early morning hours due a deadly wreck in the area.
According to the California Highway Patrol, six vehicles were involved in the crash. Officers initially responded to reports of a rollover and car fire.
Nine people were hurt and three people were taken to Bay Area hospitals. A man was killed in the crash.
Highway 25 is closed from TRI-CAL Inc. to Shore Road.
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CHP officers as well as emergency medical crews are on scene of a fatal accident in Hollister Monday night.
The accident happened just before 5:30p.m. on Highway 25 at Shore Road just passed the airport.
Initial reports from CHP dispatch are that at least five cars and a semi-truck were involved and there is at least one fatality.
Highway 25 is closed in both directions and traffic is being diverted at Bolsa Road.
The big rig was said to be carrying at least 2,000 pounds of produce.