Southbound Highway 99 near Lodi reopened Wednesday night after a four-vehicle crash that killed one person and closed the freeway for nearly 10 hours.
The crash was reported around 12:25 p.m. on southbound Highway 99 near Jahant Road, just north of Lodi in San Joaquin County. Two pickup trucks and two semi-trucks were involved in the collision.
The California Highway Patrol said one driver, a 23-year-old man, died in the crash. His identity had not been released as of the latest reports, and authorities had not said which vehicle he was driving.
Three other drivers involved in the collision were not reported to have suffered injuries.
The crash initially left at least one person trapped in a vehicle. A fluid leak was also reported at the scene, prompting authorities to close all southbound lanes while emergency crews and investigators worked in the area.
The closure caused significant delays along Highway 99, with traffic backing up toward Galt during the afternoon. Drivers were diverted from the freeway at Jahant Road while the scene was being cleared.
The highway remained closed for much of the day as crews dealt with debris and investigated the fatal collision. By about 7:45 p.m., authorities were still reporting a large amount of debris on the roadway.
Southbound Highway 99 eventually reopened at approximately 10:45 p.m., allowing traffic to resume through the area.
Authorities have not released details explaining what caused the four vehicles to collide. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
