A recent collision on Highway 99 caused a large fire and traffic disruption on Saturday. An Isuzu box truck was on the shoulder of California’s Highway 99 due to a flat tire. About 10 minutes later, a fuel tanker entered the shoulder and turned the roadside breakdown into a towering wall of flames.
The collision happened shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, near Second Street in Selma, California. The Peterbilt tanker was hauling approximately 8,600 gallons of fuel when it struck the disabled truck.
According to SFGATE, black smoke could be seen rising over the freeway as the tanker burned. The fire closed the southbound side of Highway 99 for hours and threatened a neighborhood beside the road.
Luckily, both drivers escaped their vehicles with only minor injuries, and a third driver, whose vehicle was struck by debris, was not injured.
The Box Truck Had Been Waiting for Help
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The official CHP Fresno reel combines footage of the burning tanker with a message reminding drivers to remain alert. The post describes the crash as “not the added heat we like to see on Highway 99.”
The box truck driver had pulled completely onto the shoulder after discovering the flat tire. The driver had been waiting for assistance for approximately 10 minutes.
CHP Sgt. Adrian Lopez told ABC30 in Fresno that the approaching tanker struck the disabled truck while traveling south. The box truck reportedly sustained relatively minor damage compared with the tanker.
Firefighters Focused on Protecting Nearby Homes
The tanker fire was too intense for firefighters to clear the scene immediately. Selma Fire Department and CAL FIRE crews allowed the fuel to burn while working to prevent the flames from spreading beyond the freeway to a nearby neighborhood.
Caltrans traffic cameras captured the smoke towering above the tanker while vehicles continued moving on the opposite side of the divided highway. Firefighters contained the blaze before it could reach the surrounding residential area.
Crews had to wait for the fuel to burn before they could safely approach the wreckage and begin clearing the lanes. With 8,600 gallons aboard the tanker at the time of the collision, that process took hours.
The southbound lanes were initially closed completely as firefighters handled the tanker. Some lanes reopened during the afternoon, but traffic restrictions continued into the evening. Highway 99 did not fully reopen until shortly before 10 p.m. That means a crash that happened around 8:40 a.m. affected the road for approximately 13 hours.
California Expanded Its Move-Over Law in 2026
California’s move-over law now applies to more than emergency vehicles and tow trucks. As of Jan. 1, 2026, drivers must also move over for stationary vehicles displaying hazard lights or warning devices.
When changing lanes is not possible, approaching drivers must slow to a safe speed and use extra caution. The expansion was designed to protect stranded motorists as well as roadside workers and first responders.
CHP advises calling 911 when a disabled vehicle is stuck in a traffic lane or another dangerous location. Drivers who are safely off the road can call 511 for roadside assistance in metropolitan areas or contact a towing company.