Car Collision: SUV and tanker truck collides on Highway 99

Chico – A car crash that involved a sports utility vehicle and a tanker truck shut down both lanes of Highway 99 Sunday afternoon.

According to the CHP, the accident which occurred near Meridian Road started when a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder drifted into the path of a Freightliner Gasoline tanker truck.

The SUV collided with the driver’s side and its trailer. The force of the crash tore the empty gas transportation trailer and dislocated the rear axles of the trailer.

The driver of the tanker, Bill Carlson, 48, tried to avoid a head-on crash by driving onto the southbound shoulder. Meanwhile, the Pathfinder rolled several times before coming to rest.

The passengers of the SUV, a family from Redmond, Ore., were injured. Amy Riggs, 33, broke her left arm; while the driver, James Riggs, 46, broke his left leg and left arm. Their three children suffered minor injuries. All of them were taken to Enloe Medical Center. Carlson was not injured.

Investigation shows that both vehicles were traveling at the speed limit for their respective vehicles. However, all occupants in both vehicles were properly restrained. The accident blocked traffic lanes for approximately two hours.