On the morning of Jan. 11, a 17-vehicle crash on southbound State Route 99 in Fresno left one person dead and at least 20 injured. A couple who exited their car after an initial collision were struck by another vehicle; the woman fell about 40 feet and was hospitalized with major injuries while the man was pronounced dead. The deceased was identified as 61-year-old Gustavo Villanueva Vargas. Local officials said dense fog and unsafe speeds for conditions were likely contributing factors, and praised the coordinated response by firefighters, CHP and ambulance crews.
17-Vehicle Pileup on Fresno’s State Route 99 in Dense Fog Leaves One Dead, At Least 20 Hurt
Fresno Fire DepartmentCars in involved in the highway crash in Fresno on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026
At about 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, a multi-vehicle pileup on southbound State Route 99 in Fresno, California, left one person dead and at least 20 others injured, local authorities reported.
What Happened
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and local outlets, the collision involved 17 vehicles between North and Cedar avenues. Officials said two separate crashes occurred "moments apart," and the second struck people who had exited their vehicles after the initial impact.
Fresno Fire DepartmentCars involved in the crash in Fresno, California on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026
Authorities reported that a couple who stepped out of their car following the first crash were hit by another vehicle. The woman was transported to a hospital with major injuries after going over a highway barrier and falling about 40 feet down an embankment. A man believed to be her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.
Victim and Injuries
The deceased was later identified by local outlet Your Central Valley as 61-year-old Gustavo Villanueva Vargas of Fresno. Fresno Fire Department spokesperson Josh Sellers told SFGATE that several other people sustained minor injuries, while some suffered more serious trauma.
Fresno Fire DepartmentThe cars damaged in the crash in Fresno on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026
Response and Investigation
Firefighters, CHP officers and crews from American Ambulance responded to the multi-casualty incident. The Fresno Fire Department said responders extricated trapped occupants, triaged patients, provided lifesaving care and transported the injured to area hospitals. The department posted photos of heavily damaged vehicles and praised the coordinated response required for such chaotic incidents.
"Bad weather can play a tragic role on our roadways," CHP-Fresno wrote on Facebook, adding that the crash 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."
Officials said "dense fog" was likely a contributing factor. The Fresno Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for further comment from PEOPLE.
Safety note: Authorities continue to urge drivers to slow down, use headlights in low visibility and avoid stopping in traffic lanes if it can be safely avoided.
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