November 18, 2015
There was one fatality on Lakeville Highway outside of Petaluma when a tanker truck slammed into the back of another tanker truck which was stopped in front of him. The driver of the vehicle was mortally wounded.
The collision triggered a train reaction resulting in a multi-car pile up, California Highway Patrol said.
The accident occurred around 3:30 in the afternoon on the eastbound section of the highway and caused an extended period of delays as traffic began to add up.
According to California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay the tanker was loaded with what appeared to be vinegar.
The truck had collided with the rig in ahead of him at speeds closing in on 60 miles per hour, Barclay said.
Investigation and cleanup crews worked into the night to prepare the highway to reopen around midnight.
The driver of the tanker who died was not identified to the media pending the family receiving the notification.
