2 Killed in 60-Vehicle Pileup in Heavy Fog

Two people died Saturday when drivers speeding in heavy fog got tangled in a mile-long pileup involving about 60 vehicles.

Fifty-one people were injured, 10 critically, and 47 were taken to area hospitals. The names of the dead had not been released Saturday night.

It was still unclear how the chain reaction of accidents on southbound California 99 occurred, said California Highway Patrol Officer Debbie Ramirez.

As many as 20 big-rig trucks and up to 40 passenger cars were involved in the pileup about 9 a.m. just south of Kingsburg, she said. The highway was expected to remain closed until about midnight.

Four accidents occurred earlier Saturday on the northbound side of the highway, also due to fog, Ramirez said.