Update: New Details On Major Accident That Blocked Highway 49

Update at 3 p.m.: The CHP reports that Highway 49 has reopened to traffic. (Further details on the crash are below)

A thanks to our community news partner Tim Berg for sending in this picture.

Update at 2:30 p.m.: The CHP has released new details on the collision that has shut down Highway 49 at the Springfield Road intersection as reported below. Officer Faustino Pulido reports that an unidentified woman driving a Ford F250 truck southbound for unknown reasons crossed into oncoming traffic. The pickup hit head-on with a northbound Peterbuilt dump truck, which overturned and is blocking both lanes of the highway. Additionally, the truck’s load of sand has spilled across the roadway. Pulido indicates that the pickup burst into flames and the woman sustained major injuries and was flown to UC Davis. The driver of the dump truck, 57-year-old Larry Robinson Jr. from Modesto suffered minor injuries. The CHP hopes to have the roadway reopened within the hour. Currently, officers are directing traffic along two detours, one along Springfield Road and the other along Mt. Brow Road.

Update at 11:08am: The CHP reports that Highway 49, near Springfield Road, will be closed for the next “several hours” due to cleanup required from a major accident. You will want to take an alternate route.

Original story posted at 10:25am: Sonora, CA — Emergency officials are responding to a vehicle accident on Highway 49 near Springfield Road in Tuolumne County.

A vehicle involved caught on fire, but was quickly extinguished. Highway 49 is currently closed, and it is impacting traffic between Sonora and Angels Camp. You will want to avoid the area. An air ambulance has been requested.