Semi overturns, spilling tons of hay

Southbound lanes of heavy traffic on State Route 99 were brought to a standstill Wednesday about noon, after a semi truck hauling a double trailer of hay overturned and jackknifed across both lanes directly under the overpass at Avenue 24, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Public information officer Greg Rodriguez, said the driver of the semi, a 31 year-old man from Reedly, reportedly had a seizure behind the wheel, causing him to lose control of the big rig.

A second driver, a 25-year-old man from Chowchilla, was injured when his Tacoma pickup truck struck and slid under the semi as it overturned. The man sustained cuts and bruising, and he complained of pain in his left wrist and chest, Rodriguez said.

Both trucks were heavily damaged in the crash. Officers said it was very fortunate southbound traffic was able to stop before hitting the unexpected wreckage directly in front of them, especially in the area of the narrow overpass, and that more drivers were not injured in the unusual incident.

Officers detoured the snarled traffic around the crash scene until about 3 p.m., when the wreckage of the semi trailers and cargo of several tons of hay was able to be removed.