Update: Highway 46 reopens after multi-car pileup kills 1, injures others
One person was killed and three others injured in a major vehicle pile-up on Highway 46 East on Monday afternoon.
The collision occurred west of the Jack Ranch Cafe near the Cholame “Y” area shortly after noon, according to the California Highway Patrol. It forced the closure of the highway in both directions.
According to a tweet by Cal Fire, the four-car crash killed one person, caused two minor injuries and one major injury.
CHP officer Don Ellis said the collision was likely head-on. He said based on the CHP’s incident log, the crash happened when one car hit another car traveling in the opposite direction.
Cal Fire, the CHP and several tow trucks were dispatched to the area where the accident occurred, Ellis said.
At the time, Ellis said drivers should expect to be diverted away from the area.
“As of right now, they just don’t want to send people out there,” Ellis said. “I think the sign board on (Highway) 101 on South Spring (Street) will let them know there’s an accident out there and to use an alternative route.”
Caltrans recently announced $136 million has been set aside to widen the same stretch of Highway 46 where the crash occurred Monday.
The widening project is aimed at helping to improve safety along the notoriously deadly and heavily trafficked roadway.
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Staff writer Kaytlyn Leslie contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 2:16 PM.
