Clovis, California mother survives fatal 17-vehicle pileup on Highway 99 in Fresno amid extremely dense fog, thankful to be alive
FRESNO, Calif. — Melissa Culver is one of at least two dozen people who were involved in the deadly multi-vehicle crash on Highway 99 in Fresno on Sunday morning.
Our sister station Action News spoke with the Clovis mother, who says she’s just thankful to be alive and hug her children.
“Out of nowhere, just this thick layer of fog,” she described. “A rattle and a sense of disbelief, and before composure can ever step in, yet again, it is another rattle, bang, all over the place, what just happened, and then on repeat.”
It was a moment that felt endless for Culver and her husband as they made their way to church. Their now-crushed blue Hyundai was one of the 17 vehicles involved in the crash.
Melissa said they were very aware of the foggy conditions but never expected to be in the middle of a pileup.
“We ended up in a side-facing position, and I believe impacts three through seven were all on my husband’s side,” she recalled.
Melissa has bruises on her forearms and chest from her seatbelt. Her ribs are sore, and she’s experiencing whiplash. Her husband also has bruises with several minor cuts.
They were safe, but one couple involved in the pileup was not.
The California Highway Patrol says the man and woman had gotten out of their car, which was struck by another car. Gustavo Villanueva Vargas, 61, died at the scene, and his wife is in the hospital.
“He was thrown about 30 feet to the right shoulder. The driver was propelled over a guardrail, landed about 40 feet down an embankment,” says CHP Officer Mike Salas.
Investigators say the fog was a factor in the crash, with visibility estimated between 10 and 15 feet.
Culver is now looking at life with a different perspective.
“Seeing the children for the first time was surreal, filled with hope, super thankful to be able to come home to them,” she said.
Action News also spoke on the phone with the man who was driving the big rig that was involved in the incident.
He said he had never experienced such a quick transition from daylight to dense fog on the highway and is still shaken up.
The CHP is urging drivers to be careful on the road. The crash is under investigation.
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