1 Dead and at Least 20 Others Injured in Multi-Vehicle Pile Up on California Highway amid ‘Dense’ Fog

NEED TO KNOW

• A multi-vehicle crash took place on State Route 99 in Fresno, California, on Sunday, Jan. 11
• According to local reports, one person is dead and at least 20 others are injured following the incident
• "A heartbreaking reminder of how unsafe speed for conditions, combined with dense fog, can turn an early-morning drive into a life-changing event," said the California Highway Patrol

One person is dead and at least 20 others are injured following a multi-vehicle crash on a highway in California.

At around 9:15 a.m local time on Sunday, Jan. 11, multiple vehicles were involved in a pileup on State Route 99 in Fresno, according to SFGATE and Your Central Valley. The collision included 17 vehicles on the southbound side of the highway between North and Cedar avenues, SFGATE reported, citing the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Two separate crashes occurred “moments apart,” per the outlet. After an initial crash, a couple got out of their car and were hit by another vehicle.

While the woman was transported to the hospital with major injuries after she went over a barrier and fell 40 feet down an embankment, a man believed to be her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cars involved in the crash in Fresno, California on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.

Fresno Fire Department

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The deceased victim was later identified as 61-year-old Gustavo Villanueva Vargas of Fresno, according to Your Central Valley.

Other people in the multi-vehicle pileup sustained minor injuries, Josh Sellers, a spokesperson for the Fresno Fire Department, told SFGATE.

Officials added that "dense fog" was a likely contributing factor to the crash.

“Bad weather can play a tragic role on our roadways,” CHP-Fresno wrote on Facebook, alongside a video of responders at the scene of the pile-up. “Yesterday’s crash on Highway 99 is a heartbreaking reminder of how unsafe speed for conditions, combined with dense fog, can turn an early-morning drive into a life-changing event.”

The cars damaged in the crash in Fresno on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.

Fresno Fire Department

The Fresno Fire Department also shared photos of cars that had been seriously damaged in the crash on Facebook.

"Yesterday morning, firefighters, along with first responders from the California Highway Patrol and American Ambulance, responded to a multi-casualty incident on southbound Highway 99 near Cedar Avenue,” they captioned the post.

They continued, “Several vehicles were involved in a traffic collision that resulted in multiple injuries. Tragically, one individual lost their life, and several others sustained injuries ranging from minor to major.”

"Responding crews worked swiftly and collaboratively to extricate trapped occupants, triage patients, render lifesaving medical care, and transport the injured to area hospitals," the department added. "Incidents involving multiple victims can be chaotic and require a high level of coordination among responding agencies. Yesterday’s response demonstrated the effectiveness of that coordinated effort."

The Fresno Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further comment.

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