Massive Highway 99 Pileup Injures 10 After 59-Vehicle Crash in Dense Fog
Tulare County, CA — January 31, 2026 | Ayuda California News
A massive multi-vehicle crash involving 59 vehicles, including passenger cars and commercial trucks, left 10 people injured Saturday morning on Highway 99 in an unincorporated area of Tulare County, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The collision occurred shortly after 8:15 a.m., when visibility on the roadway dropped to just 100–200 feet due to extremely dense fog, a dangerous and recurring condition along this stretch of the Central Valley.
What Authorities Have Confirmed So Far
According to CHP officials:
- Nearly 60 vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash
- One person suffered moderate injuries, while nine others sustained minor injuries
- All injured individuals were transported to local hospitals
- Several vehicles were left severely mangled, based on images from the scene
- Highway 99 remained closed for more than six hours while emergency crews responded and cleared debris
This same highway corridor has seen deadly crashes in the past. Earlier this month, a 17-vehicle collision under similar fog conditions resulted in one fatality.
Why Dense Fog Makes These Crashes So Dangerous
On highways like Highway 99, the combination of:
- High travel speeds
- Heavy traffic volume
- Commercial truck presence
- Severely limited visibility
can trigger rapid chain-reaction collisions, where a single sudden stop leads to dozens of impacts within seconds.
Legal Responsibility in Multi-Vehicle Crashes
In large pileups, California law allows investigators to examine shared responsibility, since more than one driver may have contributed to the crash.
Authorities typically evaluate factors such as:
- Unsafe speed for weather conditions (California Vehicle Code §22350)
- Failure to maintain a safe following distance (CVC §21703)
- Unsafe lane changes (CVC §22107)
- Distracted driving, even momentary inattention (CVC §23123.5)
When commercial trucks are involved, liability may also extend to trucking companies due to:
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Unrealistic delivery schedules
- Excessive driving hours
California follows a pure comparative negligence system, meaning:
- Each party is responsible only for its share of fault
- Victims may still recover compensation even if multiple drivers contributed
Rights of Injured Victims
People injured in multi-vehicle collisions may have the right to pursue:
- Personal injury claims
- Coverage for current and future medical expenses
- Compensation for lost wages
- Claims involving multiple insurance carriers
- UM/UIM coverage, if a responsible driver is uninsured or underinsured
Each case depends on technical crash analysis and official investigation reports.
Ayuda California — Here for You After Complex Accidents
At Ayuda California, we understand that large-scale crashes create confusion, stress, and uncertainty.
Our expert team offers:
✔️ Free legal guidance in Spanish
✔️ Clear evaluation of shared liability
✔️ Support for Central Valley families and Latino communities
✔️ Help regardless of immigration status
📞 Call us for a free consultation.
Your right to understand and seek compensation matters—even when dozens of vehicles are involved.
