A 57-year-old male died in a traffic collision Monday morning on Highway 101 near the Highway 25 intersection that involved a semi-truck, van and SUV, according to the California Highway Patrol.
According to the CHP, the accident happened at 7:50 a.m. Monday and caused a shutdown to the highway during commute hours.
The 33-year-old driver of a 2012 Ford van was northbound on 101 just south of Old Monterey Road in the second lane at an unknown rate of speed. For an unknown reason, the driver failed to notice the 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by a 59-year-oild Salinas man traveling at a slower rate of speed and collided with the left rear of the vehicle’s trailer. It caused the van to travel into the opposite lane and collide with a 2005 Ford Explorer driven by a 35-year-old male from Salinas, according to the CHP.
The front-right passenger in the van was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP did not have a name or city of residence for the fatality victim.
The van driver and another passenger, both from Castroville, were transported to San Jose Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The semi driver was transported to San Jose Regional Medical Center with minor injuries as well, according to the CHP.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected causes in the incident, and no arrests were made, the CHP reported.
Northbound Highway 101 was closed for about two hours due to the collision and investigation. Citizens who may have witnessed the collision are encouraged to contact Officer Brandon Diaz of the Hollister-Gilroy CHP at 408-848-2324.
-Kollin Kosmicki
