NEED TO KNOW
- On Sunday, Jan. 11, around 9:15 a.m., the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a call reporting a 17-vehicle pile-up
- Gustavo Villanueva Vargas was the sole fatality and died at the scene
- Dozens of others were injured, including married couple Melissa and Jason Culver, who were hit seven times
A multi-car crash in California killed one and injured over two dozen people — now a couple who survived is speaking out about the harrowing ordeal.
On Sunday, Jan. 11, around 9:15 a.m., the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a call reporting a 17-vehicle pile-up on Highway 99 in Fresno, KABC-TV reported.
CHP said that the crash appeared to have occurred after vehicles traveling in two side-by-side lanes slowed down too quickly for the cars traveling behind them to stop in time, according to CBS47 and KSEE24. Officials said that fog played a major factor.
Melissa Culver told KACB that moments before the crash a “thick layer of fog” appeared out of nowhere.
“We could see a half mile — no problem,” her husband Jason said in a separate interview with local Fox affiliate KMPH. “Then all of a sudden, there was just a wall of fog.”
Then Melissa, recalled that there was a “rattle, bang, all over the place.”
All in all, their car was hit seven times, and Melissa told KABC-TV that they hit the car in front of them, too.
Fresno Fire Department
Although their car was totaled, the couple survived, sustaining only minor injuries, including bruises and cuts.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes and removed the car’s front door so they could safely exit the totaled vehicle, according to the outlets.
Fresno Fire Department
Although the majority of people involved in the pileup survived, there was one fatality: Gustavo Villanueva Vargas, 61.
Both Vargas and his wife had gotten out of their vehicle before Vargas was struck and “thrown about 30 feet to the right shoulder,” California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Salas said, according to KABC.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Vargas was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife was transported to a hospital. Additional information about her condition has not been shared.
California Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Speaking out after the pileup, the Culvers urged anybody who finds themselves driving in fog to slow down.
“Don’t mess around with the fog,” Melissa told KMPH. “If you’re going to end up being late to wherever it is that you’re going, alive and late is better than the alternative.”
Read the full article here
