A collision between a semi-truck and a sedan on Highway 99 killed one person in Galt, CA on Saturday, June 3.
The semi-truck crash occurred on C Street when a 2006 Infiniti sedan drove over the over-cross onto Highway 99, directly in front of the semi-truck which was unable to stop. The truck then drove into the Sedan, killing the driver.
The semi-truck overturned and came to a rest on the west shoulder of the 99.
According to the California Highway Patrol’s South Sacramento Division, workers had to divert southbound traffic to the Central Galt exit. Drivers in Galt had to travel through the city on Frontage Road to get back on to Highway 99 at Fairway.
KCRA reported that the sedan driver was the only confirmed death, there may have been others. Lt. John Rocha of the Galt police said the driver of the truck was able to go home. It took authorities hours before they could eventually tow the large semi-truck away with a tow truck at 10:30 PM.
Authorities are still investigating the crash, and it was unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision. Several lanes had to be closed due to a diesel gas spill.
“The nature of this crash is quite odd, hopefully an investigation will uncover exactly why the sedan went onto the highway,” said Galt truck accident attorney Gerald Singleton. “The family of the individual who died had their lives changed forever, and we hope they are able to cope with this awful loss.”
Those who have been injured in Galt truck accidents can contact Singleton Schreiber at 916-248-8478 or by emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
Fatal Galt Semi-Truck Crash
Galt is a city with a unique location. Highway 99 goes right through the middle of the city, and it’s roughly halfway between Sacramento and Stockton. Both of those cities are much larger, and the entirety of Highway 99 is a major passageway for large trucks. These trucks deliver farming equipment, crops, livestock and much more.
Galt, just south of Elk Grove and just north of Collierville, is actually located within Sacramento County. The population has grown in the last 15 years as housing prices in Sacramento have steadily increased.
Between the location right near Highway 99 and the increased truck traffic, it has become a hot bed for all kinds of truck accidents, including semi-truck collisions. A semi-truck that is hooked up to an empty trailer weighs roughly 35,000 pounds. When a trailer is full, it can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Even if not connected to a trailer at all, it can still weigh up to 25,000 pounds.
It’s easy to see why any semi-truck crash would be fatal for everyone involved. In this case, the truck overturned, but the driver was not killed. This is almost miraculous.
This truck accident is one of a recent trend of truck collisions in and around Galt. Just two weeks ago, two teenagers were ejected as a pickup truck flipped over in Galt near 110th Avenue.
Highway 99 has also seen an increase in truck accidents. In Merced, a big rig crash spilled liquid fertilizer all over the roadway, stopping traffic for miles. A pedestrian was hit by a semi-truck on Highway 99 a month ago. In March, a driver was killed after they collided with a big rig trailer on Highway 99 near Yuba City.
The list goes on, and with hundreds of semi-trucks driving this area on a daily basis, the potential for serious truck accidents is extremely high.
California Highway Patrol actually has a web page dedicated to these accidents, and the list is extensive, because every day the lives and health of drivers is put at risk. If a car makes a bad decision, if a truck driver falls asleep or is distracted, or if the weather is poor – disaster soon follows.
“The loss of life is simply horrific,” Mr. Singleton added. “However, it actually could have been worse. The truck driver, and the surviving family members of the person who was killed need to contact a qualified Galt personal injury attorney. They are likely eligible for compensation, and deserve prompt justice.”
Anyone injured in a Galt truck accident can contact Singleton Schreiber at 916-248-8478 or by emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
