Update: Highway 49 Crash A Fatal
Sonora, CA –The CHP has just released that one person has died in the crash and a section of Highway 49 is shut down. CHP says there is lots of fuel and oil in the roadway. The accident happened before 3:30 this afternoon. The CHP say a Lincoln sedan and a Toyota pick up truck collided. The car burst into flames trapping a passenger inside. There are reports that a woman was trapped in the truck. Highway 49 has been shut down for over an hour. The CHP is diverting traffic to Rawhide Road. Traffic is backed up from the one-lane bridge more than a mile on Rawhide Road. Motorists will want to use caution in the area or avoid the area all together.
Clcik here for a map.
Update 4:30p.m.: The CHP reports roadway still closed. There are reports of another woman trapped in the truck and emergency crews had to use the Jaws of Life to free her.
Update 5p.m.: The CHP reports roadway is still closed. The CHP is diverting traffic to Raw Hide Road.
Update: 6p.m.: The roadway is still closed. The CHP is diverting southbound traffic toward Columbia to Raw Hide Road. Northbound Traffic is stopped and back up for miles. Motorists will want to use caution in the area or avoid the area all together.
Update6:30p.m.: The CHP says the roadway is open in both directions.
Updated at 9pm: the CHP is now reporting that two people died as a result of the crash.
