Gravel truck crash on Highway 166 leaves one person dead

A fatal head-on crash on Highway 166 Tuesday morning left one person dead.

The California Highway Patrol reported a semi carrying gravel and a van crashed shortly before 6:30 a.m. The accident happened along Highway 166 and Tepusquet Road, all lanes, eastbound and westbound are blocked.

THe CHP says that a Dodge van was traveling westbound when the driver crossed over the painted double yellow lines to pass another car, also traveling westbound. The driver of the Dodge, a 27-year-old Bakersfield man, was passing on a curve directly in the path of the gravel truck,which was pulling two trailers at the time.

The two vehicles crashed head-on, with the 27-year-old suffering fatal injuries. The gravel truck overturned as a result of the collision. Its two trailers blocked the highway lanes.

Motorists were directed to use Highway 46 as a detour.

The driver of the big rig, a 57-year-old man from Bakersfield, suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene. His body had to be cut out of the vehicle by emergency personnel.

CHP is investigating the incident, but says at this time, there’s no indication drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.