July 26th, 2010 | 
Author: TURLOCK, CA – Three semi trailers were involved in a fiery truck accident late Tuesday night, July 6, in Stanislaus County, California. The chain reaction collision occurred just before midnight on the southbound lanes of Highway 99 near the city of Turlock, CA. The accident area is in the north section of the state, about 105 miles west of San Francisco, CA and about 296 miles north of Los Angeles, CA.
Local firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene of the fiery truck accident.
Late Tuesday night, shortly before midnight, 41 year old Marcus Trask of Selma, CA was driving a 2004 Sterling semi trailer truck south on Highway 99 and had pulled over onto the west shoulder of the highway just south of Lander Avenue. It is not known why the truck driver had stopped on the shoulder.
Mr. Trask reportedly signaled his intention to pull back into traffic on the highway. A second truck driver, 56 year old Jaime Henriquez of Fresno, CA, saw the signal and slowed his 2005 Freightliner semi trailer in order to allow the first driver to reenter the highway.
An unidentified third truck driver in a 2007 Freightliner who was behind Mr. Henriquez apparently did not notice that the 18 wheeler had slowed down and slammed into the truck, setting off a chain reaction collision. The third semi truck accident shoved Henriquez’s Freightliner into the first semi truck that was merging into traffic. The impact broke open at least one of the trailers and cargo spilled out onto the highway.
The force of the truck accident crushed the cab of the third semi truck and apparently damaged one of the fuel tanks. The truck burst into flames which quickly engulfed the entire 18 wheeler truck. The fire then spread to the second semi trailer truck and the grass alongside the highway.
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Local firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene of the fiery three truck accident. The unidentified driver in the third semi suffered fatal injuries in the collision and fire and was pronounced dead at the scene by officials of the Stanislaus County Coroner’s office.
Turlock firefighters fought the burning semi trucks and eventually put out the flames. They were recalled to the scene of the truck accident when some of the spilled cargo began to flare up and quickly put out the fire.
The two other drivers, Mr. Trask and Mr. Henriquez, reportedly sustained minor injuries in the truck accident. According to California Highway Patrol the two men told officers that they did not need transport to a hospital and would obtain medical help on their own.
CHP shut down all southbound lanes of Highway 99 in the vicinity around the multi truck accident. The traffic lanes would remain closed for several hours while officers conducted a reconstruction of the accident and crews removed the wreckage of the burnt Freightliner tractor trailer. The highway was finally cleared and all southbound lanes reopened at about 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.
According to authorities, all three truck drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the chain reaction collision. They have not determined if drugs or alcohol were factors and the truck accident remains under investigation.
For more information about California trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact a nationwide truck accident attorney at Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP for expert advice. For a free initial consultation, talk to a CA truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.
Posted in California Truck Accidents | 
Tags: California Truck Injury Attorney, Tractor Trailer Lawyer