Felipe De La Cruz Hospitalized after Multi-Vehicle Crash on Highway 152 near Highway 33 in Los Banos
Los Banos, California (January 16, 2020) – Felipe De La Cruz, 29, of Santa Clara, was hospitalized Tuesday evening after a traffic accident that also left one person dead in Los Banos.
The fatal crash was reported just after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 14 on Highway 152, just west of Highway 33.
According to the CHP, a 40-year-old man was driving a 2006 Volkswagen westbound on Highway 152 in the number one lane at unspecified speed when for an unknown reason, he allowed his Volkswagen to cross over the center divider.
The Volkswagen then flipped over and entered the eastbound lanes of Highway 152, where it was struck by a 2009 Freightliner big rig hauling a trailer in the number two lane, driven by Tiem Lam Phu, 59, of Los Angeles.
The Volkswagen driver was ejected upon the impact with the big rig. The big rig continued in a southeasterly direction off the roadway and slammed into an exit sign and a barbed-wire fence.
As a result of the collision, the Volkswagen spun into the center divider and burst into flames. The crash also caused the front axle of the Volkswagen to detach and thrown into the westbound lanes of Highway 152, where it was hit by a 2015 Nissan driven by Cruz.
The driver of the Volkswagen was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been disclosed pending notification of family.
Phu sustained major injuries and was transported to Modesto Memorial Medical Center. Cruz was taken to Los Banos Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
No other details about the crash were immediately provided.
The accident remains under investigation.