The Region : 9 Hurt in 24-Vehicle Crash

Twenty-four cars, trucks and emergency vehicles collided in dense fog on both sides of Interstate 5 over the Grapevine, injuring nine, one seriously, and forcing closure of the highway to traffic for nearly two hours. California Highway Patrol Officer Bill Kemp blamed morning fog that limited visibility to less than 50 feet. “People were just driving too fast for the conditions, and we had a series of rear-end accidents,” Kemp said. Southbound lanes were closed for an hour and a half before they were reopened with CHP officers escorting motorists. The northbound lanes were closed intermittently throughout the morning. A Kern County fire captain responding to the first accident was seriously injured. A paramedic riding in an ambulance was also among those injured.