Coroner identifies 61-year-old Fresno man killed in massive pileup on Highway 99

A 61-year-old Fresno man has been identified as the sole fatality in a massive pile-up that prompted a mass-casualty/trauma response along Highway 99 on Sunday.

Gustavo Villanueva Vargas was struck and killed in a chain reaction of crashes caused by a patch of dense morning fog along the 99 between North and Cedar avenues. The Fresno County Coroner confirmed the victim’s identity Monday afternoon.

According to California Highway Patrol, Vargas was a passenger in car struck during an initial crash. He and the driver had left their vehicle and were struck by the subsequent wreckage. Vargas was pronounced dead on the scene.

The driver, who CHP said it believed was Vargas’ wife, was also hit and thrown over a guardrail and down an embankment. She was transported with major injuries, but “was conscious and speaking with emergency personnel,” at the time, according to a CHP release. Her status Monday was unknown.

Dense fog in Central California

At the time of the crash, visibility in the area was reported at 10 to 15 feet, well below what the National Weather Service would consider for a fog advisory.

Fog density is typically not much less than a couple of hundred feet, meteorologist Brian Ochs said Monday.

But it can drop to near zero, he added, and that can happen quickly. When that happens on a roadway, the speed and distance between cars is paramount for safety.

The CHP said the crash was caused as two vehicles reduced their speed due to the fog. Other cars behind them braked abruptly to take evasive action, causing a cascade of crashes. More than 17 vehicles, including a big-rig truck were believed to be involved in the crashes, which prompted response from CHP, Fresno fire and Cal Fire units.

While the CHP has yet to release an official count of those injured, nearly a dozen ambulance units and a Fresno FAX bus were brought in to help transport victims to the hospital.

This is the peak of fog season in the Valley, according to NWS, and already the area has experienced an above-average amount of fog-filled days due to surface moisture. The area can expect areas of fog over the next few days and into next week, especially if the weather remains relatively cool.

The CHP and weather service both urge caution when driving in foggy conditions:

* Slow down and increase following distance

* Use low-beam headlights. High beams reflect off fog and can actually reduce visibility.

* Avoid sudden stops or lane changes.

* If visibility becomes too limited, safely exit the roadway when possible.