Monterey County, CA (May 31, 2025) — A 47-year-old Salinas man was killed Friday afternoon when his pickup truck collided with a semi-truck attempting a left turn on Highway 101 near Hartnell Road, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Incident Details: The fatal crash occurred around 3:07 p.m. when the red Toyota pickup was traveling northbound on Highway 101. At the same time, a Freightliner semi-truck pulling a trailer was headed southbound and began turning left onto Hartnell Road. During that maneuver, the trailer crossed into the path of oncoming traffic and was struck by the pickup truck.
The impact with the trailer’s right side caused fatal injuries to the pickup driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi-truck driver, a 62-year-old Yuba City resident, was not injured. The Monterey County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s identity after notifying the next of kin.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: The investigation into the cause of the crash remains active. Authorities will assess whether factors such as driver visibility, turn timing, trailer length, and road signage contributed to the crash. Investigators may also review dashcam footage, electronic logging device data, and driver history.
The victim’s family could have grounds for a wrongful death claim to recover damages for funeral expenses, lost income, and the profound emotional toll of losing a loved one so suddenly and tragically.
My deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the deceased driver.
Source: KRON4 News