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Nine people have been taken to the hospital following a pile-up of over 40 vehicles on the highway in Bakersfield, CaliforniaThe accident, which the California Highway Patrol indicated was caused by “extremely dense” fog, took place on Tuesday, Jan 27, at around 8:07 a.m.The Kern County Fire Department, which assisted in the response, urged drivers to “slow down, allow extra space, and drive with heightened caution,” amid poor visibility
Nine people have been hospitalized after a pile-up of over 40 vehicles on a Central Valley highway in California.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed in a statement that the CHP – Bakersfield was alerted to a multiple-vehicle crash “blocking all lanes of eastbound State Route 58, east of Tower Line Road” at around 8:07 a.m.
Weather is believed to have been a factor in the incident, according to the release.
Authorities confirmed that 43 vehicles were involved in the crash, with witnesses reporting “extremely dense fog in the area, with visibility estimated between 50 to 60 feet,” per the police.
The CHP added that Hall Ambulance took nine people to nearby hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to major. They also noted that there were no fatalities.
In pictures shared by the CHP, multiple trucks and cars were seen crashed into each other, with personal belongings lying on the ground.
PEOPLE has contacted the California Highway Patrol and the Kern County Fire Department for further comment, but didn’t immediately receive a response.
The crash on a Central Valley highway in California on Jan. 27, 2026.
California Highway Patrol
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“CHP units responded to the scene of this mass-casualty/trauma incident, along with Kern County Fire and emergency medical services. The CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) also assisted,” the CHP wrote in their release.
They added, “Traffic lanes of SR-58 were closed into the late evening hours for this investigation.”
The Kern County Fire Department also confirmed they assisted in the response.
“With fog reducing visibility, drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra space, and drive with heightened caution,” the department wrote on Facebook alongside a video of emergency responders at the scene.
The pileup on the Central Valley highway in California on Jan. 27, 2026.
California Highway Patrol
In their statement, the CHP asked motorists to “use extreme caution” when traveling in foggy weather.
“Slow down and increase following distance, use your low beams, avoid sudden stops or lane changes, delay or postpone travel,” they advised.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
The incident follows a similar multi-vehicle pile-up on State Route 99 in Fresno, California, on Jan. 11. The accident, which left one person dead and at least 20 injured, was likely caused by the “dense fog” in the area at the time.
“Bad weather can play a tragic role on our roadways,” CHP-Fresno wrote on Facebook, alongside a video of responders at the scene of the tragedy. “Yesterday’s crash on Highway 99 is a heartbreaking reminder of how unsafe speed for conditions, combined with dense fog, can turn an early-morning drive into a life-changing event.”