Glenn County Observer
Two separate crashes, both of them involving big rigs, occurred on Interstate 5 within an hour of each other Thursday afternoon, August 24.
A 57-year-old man was killed in one of these accidents.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the first of these crashes happened at about 2:18 p.m. on I-5 south of County Road 39. A 2022 Volvo was being driven by Eric Baker, 59, of Sacramento, south on I-5 in the slow lane at an unknown speed.
Baker slowed and came to a stop for stopped traffic directly in front of him. A 2010 International also came to a stop for the traffic, directly behind the Volvo.
For an unknown reason, Sarbjit Singh, 42, of Fresno, driving a 2020 Kenworth, failed to see the stopped traffic directly ahead of him and the front of his vehicle struck the rear of the International. As a result, the trailer of the International detached and the International and trailer were forced forward into the rear of the Volvo.
The driver of the Kenworth, Sarbjit Singh, suffered major injuries and was transported to Enloe Medical Center in Chico by FlightCare helicopter.
The driver of the International, whose name was withheld by the CHP pending notification of next of kin, sustained fatal injuries.
Eric Baker, the driver of the Volvo, was not injured.
According to Officer Williams of the CHP, all three drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.
The second collision occurred at about 3:08 p.m. Timothy Neith, 59, of Diamond Springs, Calif., was driving a 2018 Kenworth south on I-5, south of County Road 33, at an unknown speed in the slow lane.
Neith slowed and came to a stop for stopped traffic directly ahead of him.
For an unknown reason, Harjinder Singh, 54, of Atwater, driving a 2022 Kenworth, failed to see the stopped traffic directly ahead of him. As a result, the front of the 2022 Kenworth struck the rear of the 2018 Kenworth.
The 2018 Kenworth became disabled and blocked the slow lane of southbound I-5. The 2022 Kenworth was forced off the road and onto the right shoulder of I-5.
According to Officer Barone of the CHP, Harjinder Singh suffered major injuries consisting of a broken left femur. Timothy Neith was not injured.
Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.
The Glenn County Observer 