All Lanes Of Highway 99 In Sutter County Back Open After Major Crash

SUTTER COUNTY (CBS13) – A major crash blocked Highway 99 north of Sacramento Friday morning.

The incident happened a little before 6:30 a.m. near Sankey Road, about 13 miles north of the Highway 99-Interstate 5 split and south of Pleasant Grove.

California Highway Patrol says two crashes happened at the scene. The first one happened when a vehicle was making a southbound to eastbound turn from Highway 99 onto Sankey Road. A vehicle coming the opposite direction then collided with it - sending it into the northbound lanes where it was hit again, this time by a big rig. The vehicle then caught on fire, CHP says.

An off-duty paramedic, a CHP officer and a citizen bystander were able to pull the driver out. The driver suffered major injuries, including burns, CHP says.

The second crash happened a little after the first crash. Four vehicles were involved in the crash, but everyone escaped with just minor injuries.

In total, CHP says seven vehicles were involved in the two crashes.

All lanes of Highway 99 were reopened a little after 8 a.m., Caltrans said.

Drivers are being urged to avoid the area if at all possible.