Panel Says Workers Performed Well in I-5 Pileup
A governor’s task force announced Friday that public safety workers performed their duties properly during the massive Interstate 5 pileup that claimed 17 lives in November.
Gusty winds Nov. 29 were not severe enough to warrant closure of the interstate before the chain-reaction collision, said Carl Kovitz, a member of the task force. Kovitz also said that none of the victims lost their lives because of inadequate medical care at the scene.
California Highway Patrol officers reported severely limited visibility on stretches of the highway just before the crash north of Coalinga. But the highway remained open until the pileup was discovered.
Gov. Pete Wilson, who ordered the task force’s study, blamed speeding drivers for the crash.
“This report vividly illustrates the catastrophe that can result when motorists drive too fast for road conditions,” Wilson said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
