Massive 150-Car Pileup Shuts Down Highway 99 Following Heavy Fog

A catastrophic chain-reaction crash involving nearly 150 vehicles has brought traffic to a complete standstill on a major artery of California's Central Valley. The massive pileup occurred early this morning on Highway 99 near Fresno, triggered by a dense blanket of fog that reduced visibility to near zero.

Twisted metal and shattered glass now litter a significant stretch of the highway in Tulare County, creating a chaotic scene that stretches for several miles. Authorities estimate that approximately 150 cars and semi-trucks were caught in the collision, making it one of the largest pileups in the region's history.

Emergency responders from multiple jurisdictions have descended on the wreckage to extricate trapped motorists and triage the significant number of injured people. Ambulances and medical helicopters are currently transporting dozens of patients to local hospitals, though the full extent of the injuries remains unclear at this stage.

Highway 99 remains indefinitely closed in both directions as investigators begin the arduous task of mapping the accident scene and clearing the roadway. California Highway Patrol officers are working methodically to determine the precise sequence of impacts that led to this sprawling disaster while managing emergency access.

The primary culprit appears to be the notorious seasonal fog that settles in the San Joaquin Valley, often catching drivers off guard with sudden drops in visibility. Meteorologists report that visibility was less than 50 feet at the time of the initial impact, giving motorists little time to react.

Local officials have issued urgent warnings to commuters, advising them to avoid the area and seek alternate routes until the debris field is cleared. The hazardous driving conditions are expected to persist throughout the day, prompting fears of secondary accidents on surrounding surface streets.

Witnesses described a terrifying scene of screeching brakes and continuous crunches as vehicle after vehicle plowed into the growing wall of wreckage. Many survivors are now huddled on the roadside, waiting for transport and recounting the sudden whiteout that turned a morning commute into a nightmare.

Cleanup crews face a massive logistical challenge in removing the mangled vehicles, a process that authorities say could take several days to complete. Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution and utilize fog lights while traveling through the valley during this period of weather instability.