Morning Traffic Collision on Highway 120

WeEscalon – June 19, 2018. 

Escalon, California – California Highway Patrol, Escalon Fire, and Escalon Community Ambulance Services responded to a two-vehicle accident this morning. 

The accident was reported about 7:33 a.m. this morning, California Highway Patrol, Escalon Fire, and Escalon Community Ambulance responded to a report of an unknown injury accident involving a silver GMC pickup truck and a Gilton garbage truck.  The accident occurred on Highway 120, just west of Sexton Road.  California Highway Patrol is the primary investigating agency in this collision.

Witnesses reported the GMC was traveling westbound on Highway 120 and the garbage truck was stopped on the north side of the highway when the accident occurred.  It was unclear what caused the driver of the GMC to drift to the right and hit the garbage truck.  According to witnesses, the impact of the collision sent the pickup spinning before coming to rest in the center of the highway.

Upon arriving on the scene, emergency personnel found the GMC pickup truck still in the center of Highway 120. There was also debris and truck parts scattered on the roadway causing traffic delays in both directions of Highway 120.  The garbage truck was still setting on the north side of the highway with the mechanical lift arm extended and holding a black plastic garbage can.

The GMC pickup had major damage to the front and passenger side of the vehicle; while the Gilton garbage truck received moderate damage to the rear left side bumper.  The driver and passenger of the GMC were treated on scene for minor injuries by Escalon emergency medical technicians.  The driver of the garbage truck reported no injuries.  No one was transported by ambulance.  It appeared no other vehicles had been involved in the accident.

The roadway was reduced to one lane of controlled traffic with fire personnel directing the vehicles though the crash scene while California Highway Patrol investigated.  The GMC truck had come to rest in the center of Highway 120 and emergency vehicles were blocking the westbound lane causing some traffic delays in both directions of Highway 120.  McDowell Tow Services were called out to remove the pickup truck and fire personnel assisted with cleaning up some of the debris before the highway could be reopened.