Freeway Pileup Kills 5 in Stockton
Five people--including two infants and a small child--died in a fiery four-car collision Saturday on Interstate 5 in Stockton.
The midday crash left two more children badly burned at a Sacramento-area hospital, said Officer Ted Montez, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.
The accident occurred when a black Honda and red Ford Expedition sport-utility vehicle traveling south on Interstate 5 collided and careened across a highway divider into oncoming traffic, Montez said.
The Expedition slammed into an oncoming Volvo and burst into flames, he said. Another car, a silver Toyota, tried to swerve but crashed into the wreckage.
Several passersby pulled three children from the SUV, two who were badly burned and one with minor injuries, Montez said. The Toyota’s driver and a child died at the scene. The driver of the Volvo and two infants also were killed, he said.
Police did not release the identities of the victims pending an investigation and notification of relatives.
The highway’s northbound lanes were closed for about two hours after the crash, which occurred about 1 p.m.
Montez said, “There’s nothing at this point to indicate that alcohol or drugs were involved.”
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