Icy roads on sR 44 this morning led to the collision of two semi-trucks, leaving those involved with major injuries.
Just before 6 am, Baljit Sindhu of Elk Grove lost control of his tractor-trailer hauling paint around an icy curve near Poison lake, according to the California highway patrol. The big rig jackknifed and collided with a snow berm blocking the highway. The force also burst the truck’s saddle tanks spilling over 120 gallons of diesel onto the roadway. Not long after, a Peterbilt tractor truck driven by Tammy Thompson of New Orleans came around the same curve, unable to stop, colliding into the first big rig.
Emergency services, including SEMSA, CALFIRE, Shasta County Fire, Cal Trans, and the California Highway Patrol, responded to the scene. Baljit Sindhu suffered a complaint of pain, while his passenger Banjinder Singh suffered major injuries. Tammy Thompson also reported a complaint of pain. All parties involved were transported to Banner Lassen Medical Center for treatment.
Due to the spilled diesel fuel, notifications were made, and the roadway was closed from SR-36 near Susanville to SR-89 at Old Station while the
scene was cleared and made safe. The road was reopened at approximately 11:05 am.
