WOODLAND, Calif. --
Six vehicles were involved in a deadly crash on I-5 in Yolo County, officials with the California Highway Patrol said Monday afternoon.
The Yolo County coroner has confirmed a two-year-old girl was killed in the crash. The coroner also said an adult male and adult female died in the accident. The coroner said all three were from out of state.
In all, three people riding in two vehicles died, according to investigators at the scene. The crash happened just north of the Main Street exit, in Woodland.
Southbound I-5 coureopened just before 10 PM. Deputies originally estimated that the highway would open around 5 p.m. The northbound side of the highway is down to one lane.
One witness told KCRA 3 he still gets chills thinking about the accident.
"It looked like something from the scene of a war," said Jose Negron.
CHP spokesman Ken Walter also reacted to the severity of the crash.
"Even in this line of work you don't see too many like this," Walter said.
Seven people were taken to local hospitals, three of them seriously hurt, the CHP said. The other victims' injuries were considered minor to moderate.
The accident involved a Jeep Wrangler, occupied by a woman from the bay area and her dog; a Chevy Tahoe, occupied by the two adults who died; an Acura, occupied by the child who died; a Ford Expedition, occupied by a family with chidlren, and a Mitsubishi semitrailer. The trailer was turned over and on fire near I-5 and County Road 102, a CHP officer said. The people who died were in the Chevy Tahoe and Acura, according to the CHP.
People injured were taken to UC Davis Sacramento, Mercy San Juan Sacramento and Kaiser Vacaville.
Officers said the man driving the semitrailer broke his arm.
Another person suffered full body burns.
One man who was in a van that only sustained minor damage left the crash scene after talking with CHP officials.
CHP spokesman Ken Walter said traffic was coming to a stop when the accident happened.
Walter said investigators don't know what was causing traffic to stop but are investigating the possibility Caltrans roadwork about a half-mile down the freeway played a role.
Walter estimated it could be months before the investigation is complete.
Copyright 2011 by KCRA.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
