Deadly crash closes northbound Highway 99 near Galt for over three hours

A fatal crash involving a semi truck and two sedans shut down all northbound lanes of Highway 99 north of Galt on Thursday, according to CBS News.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported the crash occurred just after 1:30 p.m. and involved a semi truck, a Nissan sedan, and a Mazda sedan on the shoulder of the freeway.

The Mazda was disabled and waiting for roadside assistance when the Nissan, driven by a relative of the Mazda driver, stopped behind it to help. The semi truck then drifted onto the shoulder and collided with both vehicles before overturning onto its left side, blocking a lane and the center divider.

The semi truck driver was uninjured, but the Nissan driver, identified as an elderly woman, and her passenger, her grandson, along with the Mazda driver, were hospitalized. The woman later died at the hospital, CHP confirmed.

Traffic was diverted off the freeway onto Dillard Road while crews cleared the scene. The highway remained closed for over three hours. CHP has not released information on whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.