Two big rig drivers died, and a pickup truck driver was injured in a multi-vehicle collision that happened Wednesday on Highway 20 in Grass Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Grass Valley, CA. – Two big rig drivers died in a head-on multi-vehicle collision that also sent another driver to the hospital Wednesday morning on Highway 20 in Grass Valley, Nevada County. The wreck forced the highway to remain closed in both directions for the entire afternoon.
The pileup occurred just before 11 a.m. on westbound Highway 20 between Highway 49 and the Rough and Ready Highway, according to California Highway Patrol logs.
CHP officers, firefighters, and paramedics responded to the scene shortly after receiving reports of the crash.
Two semi-trucks and a pickup truck were involved in the collision. According to authorities, one of the big rigs was traveling eastbound on the highway when, for an unknown reason, it veered into the westbound lanes, where it collided head-on with another big rig and a Toyota Tacoma. Diesel spilled from one of the trucks onto the traffic lanes.
Both big rig drivers died from injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the Tacoma was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Authorities had earlier reported that at least one person died in the accident, but the number was updated to two fatalities.
Highway 20 was closed in both directions as crews worked the scene. The highway was reopened around 7:30 p.m.
Authorities did not immediately mention the factors that contributed to the accident.
CHP is investigating the collision.
Over the past several years, Grass Valley has seen notable changes in its traffic-collision trends. Data from 2019 to 2022 shows that the number of people injured or killed in crashes has steadily declined, dropping from 26 victims in 2019 to just 4 by 2022. Semi-truck-involved collisions also decreased during this period. These events highlight that while overall trends show improvement, specific incidents like this recent fatal head-on collision are still happening, with Highway 20 being a high-risk area due to factors like traffic volume and road conditions.
What Legal Steps Can You Take After a Big Rig Collision?
If you or someone you love was involved in this deadly Grass Valley big rig collision, visit our truck accident lawyer page to learn more about the legal options that you have.