Gustavo Villanueva Vargas dies in fatal Fresno County, California Highway 99 pileup

Gustavo Villanueva Vargas dies in fatal Fresno County, California Highway 99 pileup

Fatal Fresno County, California Highway 99 pileup death of Gustavo Villanueva Vargas – Obituary

Gustavo Villanueva Vargas, a 61-year-old man, was killed Sunday morning in a multi-vehicle pileup on southbound Highway 99, south of North Avenue in Fresno County, California, authorities confirmed.

The California Highway Patrol reported that the crash, involving 17 vehicles including a semi-truck, occurred around 9:15 a.m. Reduced visibility from heavy fog, estimated at less than 15 feet, contributed to the incident. Investigators noted that two separate collisions occurred within moments of each other, creating a chaotic chain reaction.

Vargas, a passenger in one of the vehicles, was struck during the second collision and came to rest on the right shoulder of the freeway. Firefighters pronounced him dead at the scene. The driver of his vehicle suffered major injuries after being propelled over a guardrail and falling about 40 feet beneath the bridge.

Multiple other drivers and passengers were also injured and transported to local hospitals. The CHP continues to investigate the circumstances of the crash and is asking anyone with information to come forward.