2 killed in fiery crash on HWY 99 in Goshen

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two people are dead and three others injured after a semi-truck slammed into the back of several vehicles on Highway 99 Tuesday morning.

Officials are blaming an inattentive semi-truck driver for a deadly crash on Highway 99 near Goshen. The CHP said numerous construction signs says should have given him ample warning to slow down.

Investigators say traffic was merging ahead of construction on southbound Highway 99, a little before 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, when the truck driver failed to notice the cars in front of him had stopped.

The semi then hit a mini-van -- killing one passenger inside. The big-rig continued to roll forward hitting a pick-up and another box-truck before finally coming to a stop. The impact caused the semi and the pick-up to catch fire. The pick-up driver was unable to get out and died at the scene.

The CHP said inattention to traffic and construction warnings played a factor in the crash. "There is ample warning -- advising motorists that construction is ahead, and so drivers really need to pay attention and take heed of the warnings and slow down in construction zones," said Michael Donnely, California Highway Patrol.

Three other people in the mini-van were injured. The driver of the box-truck and the big rig were not hurt.

Only one lane of southbound Highway 99 through Goshen is open on Tuesday afternoon. The CHP said they will reopen lanes once their investigation of the scene is complete.